Opinion

Ofsted is wrong about arts and media courses

The obsession with STEM is causing misperceptions about the value – economic and social – of participation in the…

Expert Contributor
DEBRA GRAY
Opinion

It’s now obvious that urgent action is needed to quality assure all loans-only providers

In 2013 the government moved several hundred million pounds of level three funding out of the adult skills budget,…

Nick Linford
NICK LINFORD
Opinion

Colleges can give students a headstart over universities

With their close employer relationships, colleges have a major advantage over schools and universities, says Ronel Lehmann For years…

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RONEL LEHMANN
Opinion

Do Skills Advisory Panels even make sense?

Will SAPs really be able to match local skills supply to employers’ needs, or is this just magical thinking,…

Expert Contributor
EWART KEEP
Opinion

Why should colleges prioritise digital technology?

Using tech effectively throughout your college is about creating equal opportunities for all learners, explains Deborah Millar Our job…

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DEBORAH MILLAR
Opinion

What’s best practice for setting apprenticeship subcontracting fees?

Subcontractors can cost providers more than they would like, but the benefit to apprentices can make it worth it,…

Expert Contributor
RUPERT CROSSLAND


Opinion

College restructuring is complex, costly and shrouded in secrecy

Julian Gravatt analyses the finances of colleges and explains why the restructuring fund will be nowhere near adequate in…

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JULIAN GRAVATT
Opinion

How the sums don’t add up in recruitment of maths staff

It can be a struggle to recruit suitable maths staff – and it won’t get any easier as numbers…

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DIANE DALBY
Opinion

Ofsted’s focus on new providers should be an extra, not an instead

The Ofsted annual state-of-the-nation report is due for publication next month and I’ve spent much of this week crunching…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
NICK LINFORD
Opinion

Why colleges should be wary of university mergers

Merging with a peer in further education is now the most sensible option for colleges wanting to cut costs,…

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MARTIN VINCENT
Opinion

Governance structures must evolve for a college to survive

Good governance is essential to the effective running of any business, with an ineffective board being the most likely…

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STEPHEN HOWLETT
Opinion

What to do if your college is running into financial problems

Skills minister Anne Milton explains what the government is doing to support colleges in financial difficulty   A college…

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ANNE MILTON