Tag: Social Mobility Commission

Poverty matters. But it’s not the whole story

Poverty must never be used as an excuse for underperformance. If we truly believe in the potential of every learner, we must move beyond deficit narratives and focus on what helps poor children succeed

Is education policy ‘TIP’ing into a trauma-informed trap?

From Knowsley’s failed ‘deschooling’ experiment to today’s trauma-informed practice (TIP) trends, education keeps repeating the same mistake: embracing radical reforms without evidence

College principal confirmed as permanent Social Mobility Commission chair

Alun Francis has been interim chair since Katharine Birbalsingh resigned in January

This is what I really said about social mobility

Social mobility is complex, as FE providers know. The Telegraph’s headline about my speech was the opposite of the truth, writes Katharine Birbalsingh You may have read that last week we launched the “fresh approach” which we want the Social Mobility Commission to take over the next few years. The Commission has a statutory duty […]

The FE Week Podcast: ‘Triple whammy’ college costs, BTEC campaign and Social Mobility Commission

This week Shane is joined by former DfE civil servant and adult education expert Sue Pember, and further education funding guru Julian Gravatt. How are energy costs affecting colleges? Why did the Lords get so heated this week? And has the Commission got the right focus? Listen to episode three below and hit the subscribe […]

T-levels implementation should be delayed again, says chair of social mobility commission

Dame Martina Milburn has called for the rollout of T-levels to be delayed for a year. While giving evidence at an education select committee hearing on Tuesday, the chair of the social mobility commission (SMC) said she agreed with Jonathan Slater’s request to postpone the implementation until 2021. She added that she was disappointed when […]

Social Mobility Commission report warns of ‘virtuous’ and ‘vicious’ cycle of adult learning

The poorest adults with the lowest qualifications are the least likely to access training despite needing it the most, according to new Social Mobility Commission research, which has warned of a “virtuous and vicious cycle of learning”. ‘The adult skills gap: is falling investment in UK adults stalling social mobility?’, released today, looked at participation […]

‘Preferred’ Social Mobility Commission chair wants ‘complete overhaul’ of FE

The government’s preferred candidate to chair the Social Mobility Commission has told MPs that the FE sector needs a “complete overhaul”, and reviewing vocational education would be one of her key priorities. Dame Martina Milburn appeared before the education select committee this morning. She made it clear that she is not impressed with the FE […]