‘Skills’ goes to McFadden

As part of his reshuffle, prime minister Keir Starmer has moved responsibility for ‘skills’ from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions. Pat McFadden, formerly of the Cabinet Office, has moved jobs, replacing the struggling Liz Kendall at the DWP - although it’s reported a new ‘growth department’ is going to … Continue reading ‘Skills’ goes to McFadden →

A-level results. ‘When they were up they were up…..’

A-level results day has arrived again with the extensive media footage of happy and sometimes not so happy, young people opening their envelopes. Understandably, students still like to attend their schools and colleges with friends and their teachers, rather than relying on direct emails from awarding bodies. Perhaps less understandable is why thousands of tech-savvy … Continue reading A-level results. ‘When they were up they were up…..’ →

Labouring under Labour

Well before being elected, Labour set out intentions to increase labour market participation. At the centre of its policies, was achieving an 80% participation rate for 18–66-year-olds over a ten-year period, way above the current 75% - though this includes part-time working. ‘Rebuilding’ Britain’s labour force has been the main brief of the Department for … Continue reading Labouring under Labour →

Votes at 16. Extending citizenship or gesture politics?

Most progressives will consider the extension of the franchise to 16- & 17-year-olds a step forward. According to Keir Starmer it’s ‘because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes’. It’s considered the most significant change since 18-year-olds were given the vote in 1989. 16-year-olds are already … Continue reading Votes at 16. Extending citizenship or gesture politics? →

Who needs college anymore?

Review: Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter Kathleen Delaski, Harvard Education Press. Post-16 Educator No 120 https://post16educator.org.uk/ Kathleen Delaski’s provocative book has received considerable attention in the US. Her basic argument is that the ‘college for all’ post-high school model of US education doesn’t serve the needs of the majority, … Continue reading Who needs college anymore? →

What price a graduate?

It’s a difficult time to be a graduate. Thousands of debt laden young people leave university this summer, aware that it’s increasingly difficult to find employment commensurate with their qualifications - surveys report over a hundred applicants for each vacancy and employers turning to AI bots to sift through candidates. Previous comment on this blog … Continue reading What price a graduate? →

The State we’re in

Labour’s planned increases in everyday spending - £190 billion over the remainder of the parliament, announced in last week’s ‘spending review’ - are firefighting measures, being nowhere near enough to rebuild public services after ’14 wasted years’. Labour’s increases are also dependent on the economy continuing to expand and generate additional taxation revenue. With a … Continue reading The State we’re in →

To build up the military, there’s always the NEETs!

Under pressure from Trump and NATO, the government has announced plans to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP over the next decade. This would mean earmarking more than £10 billion extra every year. While department ministers battle with the Chancellor over their allocation, next week’s Spending Review will see big rises in the budget … Continue reading To build up the military, there’s always the NEETs! →

A ‘landmark programme’ for NEETs and apprentices or just smoke and mirrors?

The government has launched what’s described as a ‘landmark programme’ to get young people into the workforce. At the end of last week, it announced its ‘Youth Guarantee’ scheme that will match young people to job or training opportunities and will provide all-important foundations for the national roll-out of the programme, ensuring all 18- to … Continue reading A ‘landmark programme’ for NEETs and apprentices or just smoke and mirrors? →

Labour’s new immigration polices

Labour’s new policy stance on immigration has inevitably led to allegations of racism by its critics, but also from many of its own supporters. It’s difficult to refute these claims or deny it's a capitulation to Reform. Though Labour tread carefully on this issue, it’s also the case that post-Brexit, large numbers of the (legal) … Continue reading Labour’s new immigration polices →