Don’t rely on volunteers to improve careers advice

Laura-Jane Rawlings raises concern about the reliance on employer volunteers to make the government’s careers advice strategy work. We…

Hold fire over outright subcontracting ban

Mark Dawe explains warns against hasty decisions being made over subcontracting because of a new Skills Funding Agency (SFA)…

Fed up with unnecessary and disruptive data changes

Graham Taylor explains why he was less than impressed with the recent qualification and achievement report. Let’s move on…

Winning colleges taking sport more seriously

Last weekend’s national colleges sports championships, held in Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead, were a huge success, judging by feedback…

Pushing for a pilot

The latest apprenticeship levy operational guidance is almost totally geared at explaining how it will work for the employers…

Dear Dr Sue (Edition 169)

On the third Monday of every month Dr Sue, Holex director of policy and external relations, answers your questions,…

It isn’t just about the money

Carolyn Woolley explains her college’s approach to the problem area of recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of maths and…

Left to sink or swim

Left to sink or swim 

Mick Fletcher reflects on the findings of the House of Lords Social Mobility Committee’s report on improving the transition…

Championing apprenticeships

Nichola Hay explains how and why she helped launch an innovative network of apprenticeship champions to provide better information…

Reversing financial downward spiral

Carole Kitching reflects on her management team’s drive to improve its finances. Lewisham Southwark College reported an operating deficit…

Improving inspections post-levy

John Hyde looks ahead to how apprenticeships will be inspected after the levy is launched. Introducing the Digital Apprenticeship…