Artificial Intelligence in Education Needs Design, Not Devotion Artificial intelligence in education is only as good as the curriculum that decides whether it supports thought or replaces it.

AI in education isn't an on/off switch — it's about where it sits in the learning process. Used as a scaffold, it helps. Used as a substitute, it quietly erodes thinking. Brilliant piece by Jon Nosta in Psychology Today.

Hannah Fry: Maths GCSE should be split into two qualifications Leading mathematician warns that the current maths qualification is trying to do ‘too much at once’ and risks leaving students behind

Hannah Fry's call to split GCSE Maths into two qualifications makes sense — one for real-world numeracy, one for future mathematicians. Scotland's already doing it & uptake is soaring. At NEC we see what happens when maths works for the learner, not the other way round.

Vice-chancellor calls for review into student loans for those without A-levels Adam Tickell, of University of Birmingham, says money is lent to people who ‘are not really capable of graduating’

Birmingham's VC wants to restrict student loans to those without A-levels. The funding crisis is real — but A-levels aren't the only indicator of potential. At NEC, we see non-traditional learners thrive every day. Let's fix the funding model, not close the doors.

Ofqual's Chief Regulator wrote to exam boards last week flagging two urgent concerns: phones in exam halls & AI misuse in coursework. On AI, he's right — when students submit AI-generated work, they lose the learning, not just the grade. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a5ad...

Too many students drop out of A-levels – here’s how to help them pick a course they’ll stick with Students are choosing to spend hundreds of hours studying a subject, not just a path to university.

New research shows A-level students who are genuinely interested in course content are more likely to complete it than those motivated by career value. Are we giving young people enough info to make real choices at 16? NEC sees the cost of poor fit daily.

TBI's Generation Ready report calls for a national AI strategy in schools – but what about learners outside traditional classrooms? If we're serious about closing the digital divide, the strategy must reach everyone. institute.global/insights/pub...

A Guide To AI | Study Online With NEC Understand what artificial intelligence is, how it works, and how it’s shaping our world with NEC’s accessible, online Guide to AI. Ideal for beginners and curious minds.

The DSIT, AI Opportunities Action Plan targets 10m workers upskilled by 2030 & AI tutoring for 450k disadvantaged pupils. Great ambitions — but AI literacy needs to start somewhere accessible. Our free Guide to AI course is open to everyone, no sign-up needed: nec.ac.uk/courses/a-guide-to-ai/

Direct entrant students can no longer remain invisible The post-16 white paper wants a more flexible system. For Eloise Heathcote, this means tackling the challenges faced by students who join degrees in later years The post-16 white paper wants a more…

Important piece by Eloise Heathcote on direct entrants being invisible in university systems. Only 48% achieve good honours vs 61% of traditional starters. At NEC we've always designed learning around the student, not the system. Flexible pathways need flexible support too

450,000 disadvantaged pupils could benefit from AI tutoring tools Safe AI tutoring tools co-created with teachers to be available to schools by the end of 2027, helping to close the attainment gap.

AI tutoring for 450,000 disadvantaged pupils by 2027 sounds promising — but do the schools and homes that need it most have the digital infrastructure to make it work? Technology only removes barriers when connectivity and devices are already in place.

University application fees for care leavers to be scrapped by Ucas Those who have been in care who are applying to start university in autumn 2027 will have the fee waived

UCAS is waiving the £28.95 application fee for care leavers from autumn 2027. Only 13% of care leavers reach HE by 19 vs 46% of others. Small barriers matter - removing them sends a message: your circumstances shouldn't limit your education. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
#CareLeavers

What’s the outlook for student employment in 2026? As we step into the new year, Stephen Isherwood, ISE’s joint CEO, considers whether we’re poised at the bottom of the up escalator or top of the down escalator.

Student jobs market faces another tough year: 7% drop in vacancies, record applications. Economic pressure + AI concerns + apprenticeship reforms = urgent need for flexible education pathways when traditional routes tighten.
ise.org.uk/knowledge/in...
#Education #Skills #Jobs

Pre-appointment hearing: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration - Committees - UK Parliament The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration monitors and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of the immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions carried out by the…

946,000 young people are NEET – highest in a decade. New inquiry asks: what barriers prevent young people completing training? Flexible online learning can work WITH their circumstances, not against them.
committees.parliament.uk/work/8895/
#NEET #Education

Government modernises exam records with new app Every year 11 student in England to be able to see their GCSE exam results on a new app from summer 2026.

GCSE results going digital from 2026 – students get lifetime access via app. Great for reducing admin barriers, but digital records alone won't solve accessibility. Real transformation needs flexible learning that fits around lives.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
#Education #EdTech

Public First publishes new research on the first generation of 16-year-old voters – Public First Public First has today published new qualitative research exploring the political instincts of the young people who will become the first 16- and 17-year-olds eligible to vote at a UK general…

Striking research on future 16-yr-old voters: not one Year 8 pupil knew voting age is changing. Political views already diverging sharply by postcode. They trust family & BBC, not teachers or social media. Want political education before they vote.

‘For a moment, only that story matters’: my plan to reignite the all-consuming love of books Reading for pleasure rates are shockingly low in young people. So we should all get behind a new drive to turn them into avid readers. Why not start with books about art?

Reading enjoyment among UK young people is at a 20-year low but 2026's National Year of Reading offers hope. Start with their passions. Just as we believe learning works best when it's flexible and accessible, reading thrives when it meets people where they are.

What parents value in education As parents, we all want the best for our children. We want them to be happy, confident and well prepared for whatever life brings – and we know education plays a huge part in that.

Parents prioritise life skills (51%) over exam results in education – yet the system focuses increasingly on grades. Add funding pressures forcing 41% to contribute to running costs, and it's clear something needs to change. #Education #ParentVoice

HRUC and Pearson to trial new approach to post-16 GCSE maths resits | FE News | HRUC and Pearson to trial new approach to post-16 GCSE maths resits

HRUC & Pearson trialling unitised GCSE maths resits breaking content into 3 assessed stages rather than one high-stakes exam. With only 17% currently achieving grade 4 and 62% feeling they're "going backwards", this approach could be transformative

High quality learning means developing and upskilling educators on the pedagogy of AI AI has the potential to change educator practice, but it needs the right support to be in place. Debbie McVitty and Rachel Maxwell invite you to contribute to a new Wonkhe-Kortext project on…

AI pedagogy in HE. We need to shift from policing student AI use to empowering educators to use it effectively in teaching. But that needs time & space to experiment - not just compliance policies wonkhe.com/blogs/high-quality-learning-means-developing-and-upskilling-educators-on-the-pedagogy-of-ai/

Exploring the relationship between Year 11 absence and GCSE results - FFT Education Datalab We explore how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.

FFT Education Datalab shows Y11 attendance alone doesn't predict GCSE results. Students missing 5-10% of Y11 had Attainment 8 scores from 42-54 depending on Y10 attendance over a grade difference. Persistent absence needs early support not Y11 interventions

Social Mobility Commission SMC is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Cabinet Office .

Social Mobility Commission's new report: young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are LESS likely to move up socially than 50 years ago. We're going backwards.
Flexible, accessible education isn't a nice-to-have—it's essential.

Up to three million UK jobs at risk over the next decade, says report The final report from The Skills Imperative 2035 Programme has warned that up to three million UK jobs in declining occupations could disappear by 2035, largely due to AI and automation.

At NEC, we've spent 60+ years proving flexible online learning removes barriers. This research shows why that mission matters more than ever.
The future of work isn't coming — it's here.
www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

We can't just prepare young people better — most workers in 2035 are already in the workforce today.
This means:
✓ Family support from birth
✓ Essential skills embedded in curriculum
✓ Real technical pathways to professional jobs
✓ Reinvigorated adult education system

Key findings that should worry us:
→ Sales/customer service roles fell 10% in just 3 years
→ 7M workers may lack skills their jobs require by 2035
→ England has largest socio-emotional skills inequality in OECD
→ Adult education funding down 38% since 2010

The solution? A cradle-to-career system of lifelong learning focusing on essential employment skills: communication, collaboration, information literacy, problem solving, creative thinking, and planning.

Major new research warns 1-3M UK jobs in declining occupations could disappear by 2035 — three times faster than predicted.

Access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level: 2024 to 2025 academic year We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

Ofqual's revised access arrangements data: 18-27.7% of students had arrangements in 2024-25, broadly matching SEN rates. But inequality persists - 22-32% in independent schools vs 14-22% in state schools got extra time.

Reeves unveils £820m funding to support jobless young people The funding will help guarantee paid work placements for 18 to 21-year-olds "not earning or learning", the Chancellor says.

£820m Youth Guarantee for 18-21 year olds not in work/education is welcome – but with nearly 1m young people NEET (close to 11-year high), scale of challenge is huge. 580k are economically inactive, not just job-seeking. Flexible education matters here.

Some GCSEs and A-levels in England could be taken on laptops by 2030, Ofqual says Qualifications watchdog launches consultation amid complaints from pupils about writing fatigue in exams

"My hand muscles aren't strong enough" - students to Ofqual about exam writing fatigue. UCL research: ALL pupils scored better using keyboards vs handwriting. Consultation on limited laptop exams from 2030, smaller subjects only. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Get involved - Prisoners' Education Trust With your support, we can help people in in prison build brighter futures through education.

prisonerseducation.org.uk/get-involved/

Attending a Prisoners' Education Trust event tonight. Our 30+ year partnership with PET reminds me why NEC exists - to open doors for people shut out of opportunity. Prison learners tell us our courses are "lifelines." That's what education should be. #PrisonEducation #SecondChances