Skip to content
9 July 2026

FE has lost something primary schools get right

Colleges devote huge amounts of time to monitoring attendance and progress, yet many learners still feel unknown
Grace England Guest Contributor

East Coast College teacher and PhD researcher

3 min read
|

Listen to this story

Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article.

1.0x

Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice.

0:00 0:00

In primary school, every student has a person.

A teacher who knows them, their moods, their friendships, their worries, the way they walk in when something isn’t right. There is consistency, familiarity, and a clear sense of belonging.

By the time students reach further education, that person has disappeared.

Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week

subscribe

Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.

Share

Explore more on these topics

No Comments

Featured jobs from FE Week jobs / Schools Week jobs

Browse more news