#SkillsWorld LIVE — Upcoming Episodes & Topic Suggestions

Presented by the Chief Executive of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, Tom Bewick, #SkillsWorld Live is a new radio show that builds on the popular #SkillsWorld podcast series, where Tom interviews leading figures shaping the post-compulsory education and skills systems, including apprenticeships in the UK, and across the world.

Available Thursday 7-8pm during term time on FE News live, or for download via your favourite podcast app here. 

Tom will call guests at an allocated date and time to discuss a pre-agreed topic for 5 to 10 mins.

If you are keen to get involved, or you know others that are, please let us know by emailing: [email protected]

Upcoming Episodes

Please let us know if there is an important topic you would like to debate that we haven’t included yet!

• Are we doing enough to safeguard and retain our apprenticeship talent pool?
• When should the lockdown end, what will the biggest impact have been?
• Is Covid-19 causing training providers to go to the wall?
• Is the Department for Education doing a good job during the crisis?
• What should Labour’s new shadow ministerial team campaign on?
• Should parents be paid extra child benefit for home schooling their kids during the lockdown?
• Has the government got the balance right between public health and unemployment, including allowing viable businesses go to the wall?
• Will new technology and virtual working change the face of FE forever?
• Is teacher-led assessment in the summer examinations here to stay after the crisis?
• Have the police been too heavy handed during the lockdown?
• Should Ofsted be scrapped?
• Will the cost of dealing with Coronavirus lead to a new age of austerity?
• Should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped?
• Should the furlough scheme be extended beyond three months?
• Are the universities giving out too many unconditional offers to students?
• Is the Augar review now dead and buried?
• Will all examinations be online and taken at home within 10 years?
• Have other parts of the UK done a better job at looking after the skills sector and Careers Advice than England?
• Would it be better to focus apprenticeships on the below 25 age group, not taking a degree?
• Will the Coronavirus be good for solving the productivity puzzle?
• To help colleges and universities recruit more EU students, should the Brexit transition period be extended?
• Has the reinstatement of a new minister for skills and apprenticeships made any difference to the sector?
• Are individual skills accounts a good idea?
• Is the government using Covid-19 to nationalise England’s the post-16 skills system?
• Where is the student and apprenticeship voice in shaping skills policy? (e.g. should 16-year olds be given the vote?)
• Is devolution of adult skills budgets in England and the devolved administrations a waste of time and money?
• Mental Health and Wellbeing for Students and Staff
• Continual Professional Development – for individuals and staff
• Levelling Up – Re-evaluation of “low skilled” jobs in society – shifting labour market dynamics. Impact of remote learning on marginalised groups, rural location, additional learning needs etc.
• Fourth Industrial revolution – Employability and recruitment
• Health and safety for key-workers
• Accelerated uptake of EdTech / steep learning curve
• Coping with remote learning / working – general advice and legal implications
• Community support – provided by colleges, universities and training providers, ie providing accommodation, equipment, meals, producing innovative solutions etc.
• Teaching English online

Tune in to #SkillsWorldLIVE 7-8pm Thursdays during term time and subscribe here for notifications!

Previous Episodes

Week commencing the 21st April

Episode 1: Is the calculated grades approach to summer examinations fair on students? – 23rd Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 2: Should the skills sector get its own bailout? – 24th Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Week commencing the 27th April

Episode 3: When should the schools reopen? – 27th Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 4: Would it be better to delay T-Levels by a year? – 28th Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 5: Are too many apprenticeships in England low quality? – 29th Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 6: Are we training enough people for our NHS? (Thurs NHS) – 30th Apil 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 7: Should we abolish the target of sending 50% of young people to university? – 1st May 7-8pm (BST)

Week commencing the 4th May

Episode 8: Starts falling for Apprenticeships: What’s all the fuss about? – 4th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 9: How do we prepare for September’s New Normal? – 5th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 10: How will Covid 19 widened the disadvantage and attainment gap? – 6th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 11: What should the priorities be for the Skills Sector? – 7th May 7-8pm (BST)

Happy VE Day! Van Allen’s 1 hour Dance mix 7-8pm on 8th May

Week commencing the 11th May

Episode 12: Why bother teaching face-to-face, if online teaching is just as successful? – 11th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 13: Will Youth Unemployment hit 50% post COVID-19? Tues 12th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 14: In the future will the british economy rely on having more scientist or creatives – Weds 13th May 7-8pm (BST)

Chance to catch up with: Starts falling for Apprenticeships: What’s all the fuss about? – Thurs 14th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 15: Are Apprenticeship and Students getting a good deal? Fri 15th May 7-8pm (BST)

Week commencing the 18th May

Episode 16: How do we get Britain Training? Mon 18th 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 17: Will the FE Whitepaper result in the nationalisation of Colleges? Tues 19th 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 18: What is the future of funding and quality for Apprenticeships? Wed 20th 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 19: Should there be a Youth Guarantee? Thurs 21st 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 20: How will COVID 19 impact the skills needed for the fourth industrial? Fri 22nd 7-8pm (BST)

 Week commencing the 1st June 2020

Episode 25: College of the Future. Monday 1st June 2020 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 26: Do we need to change the inspection regime for providers? Tuesday 2nd June 2020 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 27: How are other countries skills systems battling the pandemic? Wed 3rd June 2020 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 28: How do we ensure the safety and well being of staff and students? Thurs 4th June 2020 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 29: Preparing for the new normal a sector wide viewpoint. Friday 5th June 2020 7-8pm (BST)

Week commencing the 25th May 2020

Van Allen – Bank Holiday Groove Mix. Mon 25th 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 21: Careers Advice and Guidance, is it fit for purpose? Tuesday 26th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 22: One Year on from Augar, will it happen? Wednesday 27th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 23: What will happen to WorldSkills Competitions in the post Covid World? Thursday 28th May 7-8pm (BST)

Episode 24: Covid Secure: Is it safe for pupils to go back to school? Friday 29th May 7-8pm (BST) 

If you are keen to get involved, or you know others that are, please email and let us know.