News

On this page you'll find details of all the Skills Commission's recent developments and upcoming highlights. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the Commission's work, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

FETL Winter Symposium 2019 – ‘Setting up the Future: FE beyond 2020’

8th January 2020

The FETL Winter Symposium 2019 was held at the House of Commons on Wednesday 11th December 2019.

Worth the Wait? Policy Connect Responds to the Augar Review

30th May 2019

“Any rumours on the launch date?”

For months, in conversations among members of FE and HE, often over warm orange juice and cold croissants at sector conferences and panels, the launch of the Government’s Post-18 Review of Education and Funding has been anticipated. For those who are tired of hearing themselves quip – “let’s see what Augar recommends…” – the report has finally landed.

Creating a vision for FE and skills in England: How can we build a skills system that responds to local needs and future challenges?

4th March 2019

Policy Connect, the Skills Commission and Learning and Work Institute are launching a collaborative inquiry into the Further Education and skills system in England. The inquiry, grant funded by the Further Education Trust for Leadership, aims to create a vision for the skills system by looking at what structures we need to respond to local needs and how to futureproof this.

EduSkills Blog: Let’s be positive about Further Education infrastructure

18th February 2019

Maja Gustafsson | Researcher Education and Skills

It is well known that the FE and skills sector faces multiple aims and targets. Within the sector, there is a significant variety of providers, engaged age groups, and statutory and local requirements. This means – unsurprisingly – that a common and singular purpose for the sector is hard to identify.

Brief Budget Comment

13th November 2018

In Summary

EduSkills Blog: Apprenticeships – Helping Young People at Risk?

8th November 2018

Apprenticeships – Helping Young People at Risk?

Maja Gustafsson | Researcher Education and Skills

Time to embrace the future with a Minister for Lifelong Learning

11th October 2018

Appearing before the Lord’s Intergenerational Committee, Policy Connect’s Head of Education and Skills – Simon Kelleher – calls for a joint minister to lead a cultural shift in our approach to education and training

Milburn to Milburn: All Change for the Social Mobility Commission?

11th July 2018

Dame Martina Milburn is the Government’s preferred choice for chair of the Social Mobility Commission and was grilled by the Education Select Committee this week. This is a crunch point for the commission as it seeks to reboot after the resignation of Alan Milburn.

The government has been at pains to emphasise that they will not make a final decision about the appointment until receiving feedback from the committee, although Damien Hinds referring to Alan Milburn as ‘her predecessor’ already might somewhat undermine these protestations.