News from our conference this week! Our CEO Bill Watkin explained: “In the autumn, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign shared compelling evidence with the DfE to support a pause... since then, we have welcomed the opportunity to engage in constructive bilateral discussions with govt officials."
Really thankful to all our wonderful members, speakers, and exhibitors for making it a bumper winter conference today. Give us your thoughts on here, via email, or of course through our evaluation survey!
Finally, we're ending a big day by looking forward to what's next for most of our students: uni and apprenticeships. Here with the latest data, wisdom, and questions for our members is Ben Jordan @ucas.com.
Delighted to hear from Baroness Smith, our minister, on govt's plans to make sure young people get the skills they need for HE and good work. On the pace of de-funding and V level rollout, she hears the need to #protectstudentchoice and has 'no intention' of leaving young people without options.
English and maths GCSE, new V levels, Level 2's radical overhaul, changes to T levels... it's never quiet on the quals and exams front in the sixth form sector, but the current level of turbulence is almost unprecedented. Here to help guide us is Sir Ian Bauckham of @ofqual.blog.gov.uk.web.brid.gy
On the day the first new-look college report cards are published, it's wonderful to hear directly from Sir Martyn Oliver and colleagues @ofstednews.bsky.social and get to ask big questions about SLT wellbeing, data, and parity with school sixth forms.
Our first session is from Dr Michael Spence, provost of @ucl.ac.uk, who's been researching and pioneering ways to enable young people to disagree constructively and confidently on controversial issues. We're all keen to bring his work to 16-18s as well as 18+
All set up for our winter conference and AGM today at Friends House (thank you as always, @quaker.org.uk)! All that's missing is our 100+ delegates from colleges across the country. Can't wait to get started on the big topics: from disagreeing well to vocational reform, inspection, exams, and HE.
The intent behind T Levels is laudable, but far too many places across England just do not have the economy to support the 45-day industry placements at scale.
This problem has not been addressed & there are no clear solutions on the horizon.
🪓 Tens of thousands of youngsters are at risk of falling through a 'qualifications gap' in key areas of the economy because of the government’s plan to scrap BTECs, campaigners estimate feweek.co.uk/btecs-axe-wi...