Author: Martin Allen

As Matthew Taylor publishes his report, its automation that’s the elephant in the room

Election discussion about the economy, employment, and skills, largely avoided any reference to the debate about automation and its consequences for work. Even if it’s accepted that technological progress will eliminate jobs (though there are major differences of opinion about how many) it’s also generally argued  that low-paid unskilled work will be replaced by new, … Continue reading As Matthew Taylor publishes his report, its automation that’s the elephant in the room →

The Gig is Up? TUC conference on insecure work

With growing concerns about the dramatic increase of insecure employment and the abuses of the ‘gig economy’, this week’s TUC conference was a welcome intervention.  According to the TUC, 1 in 10 workers are now affected by casualization and job insecurity, which invariably combine with low pay.   Increasing numbers are also ‘self-employed’ often against their … Continue reading The Gig is Up? TUC conference on insecure work →

1 in 4 trade union members now work in education

Almost 1 in 4 of trade union members are employed in education. According to the ONS 1.47 million of a total union membership of 6.2 million are now drawn from this sector. With almost half (47.7%) of all employees belonging to a trade union, the education has probably become the most organised. (In manufacturing, union density … Continue reading 1 in 4 trade union members now work in education →

Young voters flock to Labour

Recently released data from the polling organisation YouGov shows the  extent of young people’s willingness to back Labour in the recent General Election, with the party enjoying over three times as much support from 18-24-year-old voters as the Conservatives - amongst 18 and 19 year olds, support was even stronger with 66% opting for Labour compared … Continue reading Young voters flock to Labour →

Now even Pricewaterhouse considers a Universal Basic Income

Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) the global professional  services firm has entered the debate about the effects of artificial intelligence and robotics on employment. Calculating that 30% of jobs (some 10 million)  are at high risk, its predictions are about midway between those of Oxford academics Frey & Osborne's  2013 prediction of 47% and OECD's 2016 10%. … Continue reading Now even Pricewaterhouse considers a Universal Basic Income →

T-levels get the go ahead

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s ‘Brexit budget’ has              confirmed the UK  government is to go ahead - and spend £500 million on the new ‘college based’ technical education pathway - now to be referred to as T-levels.  Based on proposals in last summer’s Sainsbury Review and the Cameron government’s Post-16 Plan, … Continue reading T-levels get the go ahead →

‘Bringing back the grammars’ – putting it in perspective

Newspaper headlines have announced the ‘return of the grammars’ and newspaper letters pages will invariably continue to publish harrowing accounts of the effects of selection on student well being and self-esteem. But the 1944 tripartite model in which grammar schools occupied pride of place was a highly organised system, administered almost entirely through LEAs with … Continue reading ‘Bringing back the grammars’ – putting it in perspective →

A good general education for everybody

The Guardian (Editorial February 20th) has now joined the attack on University Technology Colleges* correctly arguing that directing ‘non-academic’ students’ onto a vocational curriculum at 14 - what it terms ‘backdoor selection’ - is wrong. Some five years after Alison Wolf’s review had slammed many qualifications for being ‘worthless’ in the labour market, the paper likens the … Continue reading A good general education for everybody →

Schools that nobody really wants?

University Technology Colleges (UTCs) for 14-19 year olds, were established during Michael Gove’s period as Education Secretary but are most associated with Lord (Kenneth) Baker, the creator of the original ten subject national curriculum under Mrs Thatcher, but now a campaigner for better vocational education. Baker argued that Britain’s economic difficulties and low rates of … Continue reading Schools that nobody really wants? →