Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work.

Despite its limited terms of reference, the National Curriculum Review should get rid of the worst aspects of Michael Gove’s 2010 ‘reforms’ – making the curriculum broader, less Eurocentric and more inclusive. At least an element of Creative Arts is likely to be restored, along with greater access to sport and vocational subjects.  Given the … Continue reading Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work. →

Young people, BTECs, T-levels and ‘working on the buildings’

Labour has always supported T-levels as alternatives to academic qualifications, but in pre-election press releases it also committed to a ‘pause and review’ of Tory plans to defund over 140 qualifications which were considered to overlap with the Ts. This including many established BTECs and other National level 3 options. Cuts scheduled for the end … Continue reading Young people, BTECs, T-levels and ‘working on the buildings’ →

The White Paper, immigration, automation.

In press releases leading up to the recent White Paper Getting Britain Working, Labour frontbenchers argued that the high levels of economic inactivity, particularly the increased number of NEETs, prevents the UK economy from growing. The question is whether the various support measures outlined in the WP are likely to backed up by more detailed … Continue reading The White Paper, immigration, automation. →

Labour’s White Paper – just a damp squib?

This week has seen the publication of a Labour White Paper Getting Britain Working, though as Shadow spokesperson and in the run up to the election, Liz Kendall had already set out her intentions to challenge ‘worklessness’. Though the UK has relatively low rates of unemployment, at least in historical terms, it has lower rates … Continue reading Labour’s White Paper – just a damp squib? →

Goodbye to the Institute of Apprenticeships… Hello to Skills England

The new Labour government is abolishing the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) – rather it will be subsumed into a new body called Skills England. Created in 2017 to revamp the UKs ailing apprenticeship system, its remit was widened to include responsibility for the new T-level qualifications, to be delivered as full-time courses, … Continue reading Goodbye to the Institute of Apprenticeships… Hello to Skills England →

Does the Reeves budget take things forward?

Make no mistake, there are some progressive intentions behind this week’s budget, as the Starmer government sets out to address the UK economy’s miserable performance since the financial crash, the rapid decline of public services and disintegrating infrastructure.  Labour plans a £70 billion increase in public spending, with over £20 billion for the NHS, just … Continue reading Does the Reeves budget take things forward? →

More than one in seven young people are NEET.

Despite fears that slower wage growth might mean the labour market is ‘cooling’, latest statistics suggest otherwise, with a general participation rate of 75% and unemployment only just above 4%. However, ‘economic inactivity’ – those not working but not looking for work – still sits at over 20%, reflecting what commentators have termed a ‘great … Continue reading More than one in seven young people are NEET. →

Gordon Brown won’t save the T-levels.

Within a few days of Labour coming to office, Gordon Brown has intervened in the debate about T-levels. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/16/gordon-brown-calls-on-ministers-not-to-scrap-t-level-vocational-qualification This site has continued to document the issues that surround the Ts (see the categories menu below right). T-levels originate from a 2016 report from Lord Sainsbury and a subsequent White Paper. Since then, they have … Continue reading Gordon Brown won’t save the T-levels. →

Labour and the private schools

Labour’s election manifesto contained few promises for education. Probably most eye-catching has been its plan to impose VAT on private school fees in England (and to remove the exemption from business rates). Schools don't have to pass these increases onto parents and pupils with special needs statements will be exempt. The traditional image of the … Continue reading Labour and the private schools →