FE News on the go

Achieving Your Potential: A guide to making the move from school to FE and apprenticeships - for young people with vision impairmentsMany school leavers are keen to start their careers in an apprenticeship. Students with visual impairments are no exception, though they can face additional hurdles finding and securing an apprenticeship that suits them. This guide will take you through what an appre...

Creating and filling two million green jobs is going to require a major training shake-upRichard Ng, former teacher, edtech entrepreneur and CTO of Greenworkx , explains why the UK’s mounting green skills shortfall necessitates a wholesale rethink of existing training pathways towards the green jobs of tomorrow. With another Net Zero Week behind us, there’s an ugly truth to confront: in just four...

Samsung head of display Graeme Little explains the potentials of connected learning and how it can help redefine the education system to make it more engaging, joyful and impactful. Connected learning is transforming the way we teach and learn. New technologies have created opportunities to make it more accessible and engaging, with the aim of not leaving any student behind. The Importance of Tech...

IoTs are the future for higher technical skillsInstitutes of Technology are flourishing, and following the first IOT national conference, Alex Warner ( South Central IoT) reflects on what’s been achieved, and what the sector needs from a new government to fulfil its full potential. The initial idea of IoTsFive years ago, as a member of staff at Activate Learning (an FE Group spanning Oxfordshire,...

In this article, I will argue that inclusive math education can benefit neurodiverse youth by addressing their learning differences, improving their self-esteem and social skills, and enhancing their STEM career opportunities. To support this argument, I will review the literature on inclusive math education, analyse the best practices and strategies, and provide examples of successful programs. F...

Measuring the Quality of EpAOsIn this article Jacqui discusses ideas and options around developing public facing metrics to measure the quality of EpAOs, and to support employer / provider choice .For years a significant number of end-point assessment organisations (EpAOs) have been calling for a national measure of quality, and if you go back as far as 2019, there was the intention to publish rep...

Dear Ofqual..How reliable are GCSE, AS and A level grades? One source claims “reliable to one grade either way”; another denies this. This open letter by Dennis Sherwood to exam regulator Ofqual seeks the truth…20 July 2023Dear Oqual,I wonder if you would be so kind as to help, please – I’m confused. HOUSE OF LORDS EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARING (29 JUNE 2023)A short while ago, on 29 June, the House...

Transforming Higher Education: AI as an Assistive Technology for Inclusive LearningIn recent years, I have witnessed the transformative power of technology in higher education. One particular innovation that has captured my attention is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI holds tremendous potential as an assistive technology for students with reasonable adjustments in further education (FE) and highe...

Is the Perfect Storm of Apprenticeship Quality Brewing? Apprenticeship providers are facing the challenge of fewer apprenticeship starts and more early leavers. By leveraging the right quality assurance practices, leaders can safeguard both quality and performance. Life is tough for apprenticeship providers these days. You face challenges from all sides navigating the delicate balance between gove...

Women in engineering - Why diversity is more than just a buzzwordEngineering’s growth and innovation are incredible but overshadowed by the pervasive lack of diversity. It’s not a checklist item but essential for groundbreaking ideas and solutions. To address this, organizations must promote diversity, support underrepresented groups, and increase women’s representation, creating a positive impact...

This article is about how digital technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality and gamification are being used in school career guidance to make it more effective, efficient and equitable. Young people from around the world are entering the labour market more highly qualified than ever before, but in many countries, they are still finding it difficult to find fulfilling employment. W...

Technology will play an important role in the future of education. However, schools will need to strike the right balance between tech-driven approaches and human expertise. Cicy Ding of WuKong Education unpacks three recommendations for educators to consider as they embark on this journey toward a tech-oriented classroom. Test scores released from the National Assessment of Educational Progress s...

Searching for the ‘Correct Way’ to Teach and Learn About AIBassim Hijazi, responsible for digital media and communications and content production at Qatar Foundation’s education initiative, WISE, explores the ‘correct way’ to teach and learn about AI education. Hijazi discusses the purpose of why we learn in an age of information bombardment. In my role as a host on WISE’s On Air podcast series, A...

Micro-credentials: a perspective from EuropeFollowing the pandemic, Micro-credentials have become an important agent in the process of re-skilling for the new economy. This report looks at the European perspective on this emerging vehicle for retraining. Recently I’ve been doing a bit of work with CEDEFOP, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training . Their work is based on high...

Attracting Industry Candidates to Become Apprenticeship Trainers: Bridging the Gap in Specialist Trainer ShortagesSpencer Mehlman MD at the National Skills Agency shares his views on the shortage of Trainers, Coaches and Assessors in our marketplace and makes a number of suggestions and observations that are aimed at helping providers attract key skills from industry. As the shortage of specialist...

Shaping science citizens in the age of climate changeYoung people today need to be prepared to apply scientific thinking skills to everyday decisions. In this article, Dave Leach discusses how the new Programme for International Student Assessment Framework will help. It has never been more important for science education to create young people who can apply their scientific literacy to issues of...

Help students gain edge after work experienceAfter becoming a casualty of lockdown, work experience is well and truly back yet new research shows students are struggling to make the most of the opportunities in front of them. We look at the evidence and what needs to be done. The national lockdowns of 2020 led to a significant reduction in the volume of work experience opportunities available to y...

Thoughts on encouraging more vocational people into teachingFewer people are considering teaching than ever, and persuading skilled craftspeople out in industry and into the classroom is stifling the country’s productivity. In this article I question if language and expectations might play a part in the reasons why. The one thing many notice when transitioning from a physical work environment into...

Reading in prisons: Why there are grounds for optimismWhile Ofsted and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons may have concerns about the progress made in improving reading in prisons, Novus’ Richard Wakelin highlights innovative work to drive up literacy levels among prisoners“It’s just so frustrating and isolating when you can’t read.” These are the words of Paula during her first session with th...

Care about upskilling, reskilling, social mobility and innovation? Look no further than VETThis article explores the crucial role of vocational education and training (VET) in equipping both youth and adults with the skills needed in the future of work. It highlights innovative VET institutions that have successfully reached individuals from diverse backgrounds. A good match between skills provide...

Don’t hold back from talking to your neurodiverse learnersTwin Group/3SC director Kathryn Jellings explains that fears about using the wrong terminology when talking to neurodiverse learners shouldn’t stop coaches establishing what support is needed and focusing on the learner’s strengths. At Twin Group and 3SC, we see neurodiverse people on our coaching programmes across the employment, justice a...

Achieving Your Potential: Accessibility for Students with Vision LossStudents with visual impairments can face challenges with a perceived drop-off in support when they start college, compared to school. Find out what you’re entitled to, the support that’s available at college and how to go about getting it, so you can thrive in this stage of your education. Many students with visual impairments s...

Tackling Workforce Velocity: Strategies for CEOs to Overcome the ChallengeIn this article Joe Galvin, Chief Research Officer at Vistage, highlights the significance of stability, embracing change, hybrid working, employee development, and effective communication as essential components of talent retention strategies. Given the current economic conditions, it also calls for business leaders to prio...

Growth in sustainability qualifications reflects workforce demandMaddie Booth explores the rise in sustainability qualifications and how this reflects the growing demand for green skills across different sectors. Maddie argues for the importance of a holistic approach to education for sustainable development, including the need to integrate environmental, economic and social perspectives into lear...

Five takeaways from AELP National Conference 2023Following another AELP National Conference, AELP’s Director of Policy, Simon Ashworth, takes us through his five takeaways from the event – including thoughts around apprenticeship levy reform, the exceptional funding band review and the need for a united skills sector as we approach the next General Election. This year’s AELP National Conference wa...