technical education

New branding isn’t enough to drive up demand for HTQs

Level 4 and 5 qualifications have historically suffered from a perception problem, writes Ian Pretty Next September, the first round of higher technical qualifications will kick off. But the overall level of demand for these qualifications needs a closer look. First off, HTQs are level 4 and 5 qualifications, such as higher national diplomas […]

Technical education doesn’t need a review!

The prime minister is talking up technical education, but doesn’t have the goods to back up her words, according to the former Labour skills minister David Lammy MP I agree with the prime minister in that the public debate on tertiary education has been dominated in the last few decades by higher education and universities, […]

What quality work placements look like

Early reports into the efficacy of work placements suggest that they’ll be tough to get right, writes Bill Esmond The Sainsbury Review’s proposals for technical education, enthusiastically welcomed by government, focus on high-quality work placements as part of every course. The process is limbering up slowly, but research studies, modelling exercises and evaluations commissioned by […]

Breaking: Industrial strategy green paper explains plan for Institutes of Technology ‘in all areas’

The government’s new industrial strategy green paper has fleshed out what it expects from a “prestigious” new network of Institutes of Technology, set to be handed £170 million to improve higher-level technical education nationwide. The government first announced plans for the institutes in July 2015, then again through its Post-16 Skills Plan in July. The Prime Minister’s […]

How big should the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education be?

It’s time to create a directory of all the apprenticeship standards and technical qualifications that need to be developed, says Graham Hasting-Evans. In order to establish how big the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education should to be, we need to know how many apprenticeship standards and technical qualifications will have to be developed, quality-assured […]

Disappointment over further delay to FE maintenance loans decision

Sector leaders have been left “disappointed” after the government delayed its decision on whether to provide maintenance loans for higher level learners studying technical education in FE. On September 9, FE Week reported that the Department for Education had stalled on the issue, but promised to “make a statement in the autumn”. With the season […]