Long-time observers of the UK skills system are prone to wearily observing that it is fragmented, complex and a victim of policy inconsistency over time....
According to the Student Mental Health Study, 37% of first-year university students show moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression. This is nearly double the national rate for...
The biggest challenges facing the further education workforce are no great secret. Pay remains a big concern. Funding pressures limit what colleges can offer, while recruitment difficulties...
For years, employers have been telling us that something fundamental is missing in the labour market. Not technical skills, although those matter enormously, but the...
The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has topped one million for the first time since 2013. Alan Milburn's independent...
Ladi Mohammed and Shani Wijemuni discuss how you turn better understanding of the skills an economy needs into better decisions by people, employers, and training...
A member of your team discloses a neurodivergent condition. You do the right thing. You agree to an adjustment. You understandably feel that the difficult...
The new Burnham led government has only been in power for a couple of months but it has already done enough to indicate that it...
I read three things recently that felt worth pulling together, if only to highlight them rather than fully make sense of them. The first was...
V Levels could offer something the post-16 system badly needs: greater flexibility for young people who want vocational learning without having to specialise as early...
Exclusive thought leadership articles written peer to peer by leading experts about the future of education and the future of work. Experts writing op’ed and thought leadership articles on apprenticeships, skills and employability.
In the first article of their series on safeguarding and tackling extremism, Palvinder Singh, Principal at Kirklees College, and Dr Vikki Smith, Executive Director, Education…
Matt O’Leary introduces an innovative “unseen observation” project at Walsall College, replacing traditional classroom observations with a teacher-centered approach focused on self-reflection and professional dialogue.…
At the start of 2025 the UK is at a critical juncture, with recent government actions signalling a renewed focus on tackling the pressing skills…
Gavin explores how initial and diagnostic assessments are essential tools in further education, revealing learners’ capabilities and needs. His analysis shows how these systematic approaches…
Despite significant barriers like funding limitations and infrastructure gaps, Africa’s young population (median age 19) drives innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. Purpose-driven ventures and…
The importance of increasing physical activity levels among the population cannot be overstated. We know that regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining good physical…
Let’s start with the obvious: business and government agree that having a well-functioning labour market is absolutely crucial for sustainable economic growth. It is the…
Tackling extremism and social division presents a significant challenge for Further Education (FE) and Skills leaders and educators. From far-right violence – as witnessed last…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping teaching, learning, and staff development. A recent research study by academics at the University of Derby, published in the…
In my third and final article in this series, I explore other areas that may impact or influence EpAO business planning in 2025. My previous…
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