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Community Learning, Long read

Family learning: Where next for the ‘hidden jewel’ of adult education?

Family learning programmes have had to fight for survival in a competitive funding environment that demands quantifiable outcomes for…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read

FE Student support champion Polly Harrow

Polly Harrow sees her new role as the country’s first FE student support champion as being the “most perfect…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
interviews, Long read

The governor with integrity and inclusivity at the heart of his job

Demands on unpaid college chairs are growing. Waltham Forest College chair Paul Butler tells Jessica Hill about the importance…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read

Too few workers leaves childcare ‘revolution’ in peril

The early years sector is facing debilitating staff shortages. Jessica Hill speaks to sector leaders about how reforms to…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships, Colleges, Long read

Starting the weekend early at Derwentside

If you enter Derwentside College after 2pm on a Friday, you’ll find it empty. The principal, Chris Todd, will…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read, SEND

National Star College: teaching students how to speak up and fight back

Dan, who has cerebral palsy and communicates with the world through technology that tracks his eye movements, giggles with…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill


Apprenticeships, Long read

Rotheram: the ‘apprentice’ mayor

Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram is donning a hi-vis vest, trowel in hand, and reminiscing to local…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read, sixth forms

The story of PiXL: how the pursuit of excellence found new meaning

On a mission to help school and college leaders solve shared problems together, Pixl chief Rachel Johnson talks to…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships, Colleges, Long read

Darren Hankey, Hartlepool College

Darren Hankey is keen for his students to grasp the tantalising opportunities to acquire net zero skills that are…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
investigation, Long read

Why young asylum seekers and refugees are struggling to access college courses

Young people fleeing conflict, oppression and destitution in their home countries are arriving in England in record numbers. In…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read, RAAC, specialist colleges

From rebellious pupil to champion of specialist colleges

Clare Howard, chief executive of Natspec, the body representing specialist colleges, is determined to get their voices heard. But…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read, Skills reform

LSIPS: a chance to change, or a chance missed?

Gillian Keegan is determined that local skills improvement plans will ease the nation’s skills crisis. Jessica Hill lifts the…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill