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 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe When Andy Burnham became the seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, he promised a 10-year plan to fix an unstable political system. But where should his focus lie for further education and skills? In his first speeches as Labour leader and PM-in-waiting, Burnham committed to an “education system based on parity between academic and technical” routes and pledged to end what he called a “school system configured entirely around the university route”. His cabinet includes Lucy Powell as education secretary, who has experience in education policy, and John Healey as chancellor, a former adult skills minister under Tony Blair. Pat McFadden remains as work and pensions secretary and Jacqui Smith keeps her skills minister post. 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.
Peter Marples 24 July 2026 This just shows how far out of touch AELP are with the comment that ’employers are not regional’ They are fixated on the 10% of employers who pay the levy who have destroyed the market place with their feast and famine approach to Apprenticeships, whilst neglecting the 90% are not regional – they are local ! Members of AELP need to look in the mirror and ask the question as to whether they are on the same agenda as their clients are – because the AELP board is self serving and the executive team are clueless
Anon 27 July 2026 Employers didn’t create the levy, so can’t really be accused for destroying the market place. Bottom line is that the majority of businesses are local but may still work across regional localities, alongside more influential nationals that work across multiple regions. The challenge with devolution is how you distribute monies to best effect, when also trying to prevent rogue operators from fleecing the public purse when there is less centralised control… The last thing we need is a system that attracts the worse aspects of human nature. They do far more damage to the sector by making government departments suspicious of the provider base and polluting policy.
Neil C 28 July 2026 Discourses within FE that need attention: There is a consistent theme across FE over a decade: the government continues to underinvest year on year in vocational training, even though wages for vocational staff are currently lower than in the industry and specialists, compared to schools, continue to serve local stakeholders within FE to improve industry outcomes locally, which is continually missed, leading to specialists returning to the industry. The development of qualifications needs to respond promptly to and understand local industry needs from a specialist vocational perspective, rather than be driven by governmental policy, but in alignment with those needs and national direction. The additional vocational training in schools will be diluted from the curriculum. It will not align with industry, further lowering standards within vocational qualifications and industry, with inadequate resources, skills, and potential knowledge to deliver skills-based competency, and would undermine the value of education in light of industry insights into preparation for industry; it would be better left with FE, and the mandate should make schools and FE invest together in the same interest. The final effects and overarching issues for the workplace are not education; local communities and workplaces cannot afford to take on apprentices. Hourly rates, National Insurance contributions, and other factors strongly influence the decision to take on and train apprentices rather than hire unskilled or skilled labour who are already capable and productive at similar costs to be viable. While Andy Burnham has recognised that Vocational and Academic qualifications should be viewed as equal pathways, the implementation will be critical to the success, and incentives to improve and promote employers to take on the next generation, with financial return, trained within established and recognised providers of vocational standards, from specialists who are remunerated in alignment with industry to maintain standards.