Opinion

Minimum wage makes 16-year-old apprentices too pricey to employ

With apprenticeship starts for young people at historic lows, it’s time to consider that well-intentioned policy decisions may have...

Jessica Hill
John Laramy
Colleges

Having a four-day teaching week provides a fifth day for real life

Our learners had the qualifications, but not always the work skills. By redesigning our timetable we treated preparation for...

Jessica Hill
Martin Twist
Young people

Diplomas get a reprieve, and learners avoid the gap

The government’s decision to pause the defunding of diplomas and extended diplomas is a major victory for common sense

Jessica Hill
James Kewin
Young people

Three pathways, one goal: Getting young people back on track

Our phased transition to new qualifications will provide the certainty providers need, while ensuring no young person falls through...

Jessica Hill
Jacqui Smith
Higher education, Young people

Old-school class snobbery will not solve the university funding crisis

Dismissing students with vocational entry qualifications as ‘not really capable of graduating’ is steeped in prejudice, not evidence, writes...

Shane Chowen
Hannah McCarthy
Teaching

Call the Doctor… our tutorials are being treated like a TARDIS

More demands are being made of tutorial time – to the point that college teams are being asked to...

Jessica Hill
Mark Dawe
Opinion

In a saturated jobs market qualifications aren’t enough

When more than 700,000 graduates are unemployed, we must ensure students get work experience and can articulate the employability...

Jessica Hill
Tom Yates
Inclusion

SEND reforms are another burden that could make teachers boil over

Reforms promise inclusion and high standards, but quietly shift yet more responsibility onto college staff already under strain

Jessica Hill
James Scott
Politics

I’ll say it in plain English…cutting ESOL damages us all

Lincolnshire’s move to cut English language learning for non-English speakers won’t help the region’s economy, and a literacy programme...

Jessica Hill
Diana Sutton