Opinion

Ofqual’s new app requires improvement

Ofqual’s app is a step in the right direction. It’s a prototype, though, and several more steps will be…

Gemma Gathercole
Gemma Gathercole
Opinion

How to increase apprenticeship starts

The levy has had more than its share of teething problems, but it’s not time to bin it yet, says Kathleen…

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

Maths GCSE investment adds up

The extra £48.5m in the budget to support college students pass their GCSE maths is to be celebrated – and it’s…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
Opinion

Stop trying to control colleges, Corbyn!

Politicians need to stop vying for control of FE and instead focus on accountability, writes Ali Hadawi Last week…

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

Hammond, take care where you sprinkle the skills cash

With the UK’s poor economic forecast doing few favours to the skills budget, government must ensure it’s putting money…

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

A budget burgeoning with skills… But beware policy churn

The budget offers important steps in the right direction but, with the current policy churn in FE, we need…

Kirstie Donnelly
Kirstie Donnelly


Opinion

Hammond’s budget revealed poor understanding of further education

Instead of a thought-out comprehensive strategy for further and adult education and skills, the government has merely delivered more…

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

How can college governors impact government policy?

Dr Sue, director of policy and external relations at Holex, answers your questions on college governance, backed by her…

Sue Pember
Sue Pember
Opinion

What FE needs to know about competition law

Why should the corporate world of mergers, cartels and market abuses apply to those teaching and training young people?…

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

Ditch job-specific apprenticeship standards

Simply put, there are too many pathways, says Rob May, and they’re more than likely too specialised to be…

Rob May
Rob May
Opinion

Apprenticeship budget must be guaranteed

The gloomy outlook for our economy risks reduced investment via the levy in apprenticeships when we need it most,…

Stephen Evans
Stephen Evans
Opinion

Principal’s reworking of Dolly Parton classic for FE is in best tradition of protest music

From Leadbelly to Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg, there’s a proud history of protest singers drawing attention to injustice.  Now…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross