The Advanced British Standard – ABS qualification?
Rishi Sunak announces a new qualification, the Advanced British Standard, throwing planned qualification reforms into disarray. I question if this is the right way to…
Neil Sambrook
How do we save UK skills? Perhaps start by asking the right people…
As another report highlights challenges faced by the UK in improving skills shortages and increasing productivity, I ask the question, who are the right people…
Thoughts on encouraging more vocational people into teaching
Fewer people are considering teaching than ever, and persuading skilled craftspeople out of industry and into the classroom is stifling the country’s productivity. In this…
For the memory of a lifetime, reform, reform, reform
We find ourselves staring down the barrel of reform in vocational and technical education once more, with the aim of matching our international peers for…
What impacts the T Level? Reflecting on two year of the future of technical education
Having been involved from an early stage with the T Level (including being an unwitting participant in the original research programme and DfE development meetings),…
When is a qualification, not a qualification? Defunding the Level 3
The defunding of level three qualifications took a swerve toward the peculiar following the national announcement earlier this month. Whilst there are clearly obvious overlaps…
Crowbarring the ‘A’ into STEM – We are all Creative
The development of technological skills has been an agenda item on almost every governmental paper since the formation of the City and Guilds in 1882.…
The level two qualification – an overlooked solution to skills shortages?
DfE have launched a consultation (2 March) seeking views on plans to reform post-16 qualifications at Level 2, Neil Sambrook believes these qualification are an…
Getting ready for the world of work. Why employers play a crucial part in the training of young people
If there is one headline that is guaranteed to get the old blood racing, it is the criticism that education isn’t preparing young people for…