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.

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.

Skills Commission seeks evidence for fourth 'Spotlight' inquiry on women in engineering

24th April 2018

In the ‘Year of Engineering’, the Skills Commission are conducting a 6 month inquiry as part of its Spotlight series, examining women in engineering and the skills system. This timely inquiry will be co-chaired by Lucy Allan MP, Preet Gill MP and Professor Sandra McNally. This inquiry is kindly supported by the Learning & Work Institute, the Gatsby Foundation, the Hadlow Group and Veolia.

EduSkills blog: Skills Commission Reception

27th February 2018

This week we hosted a Parliamentary reception for the Skills Commission on Wednesday to celebrate the Commission’s Spotlight series, with a keynote address from Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Rayner MP. As figures released this week showed another decline in apprenticeship start figures, we were joined by Parliamentarians, providers, employers and key sector stakeholders to discuss how more opportunities could be opened up for disadvantaged or overlooked groups through the skills system, including through apprenticeships.

Skills Commission launches third 'Spotlight' inquiry on apprenticeships and social mobility

1st August 2017

The Skills Commission’s Spotlight series is launching its third cross-party inquiry, examining the impact of recent apprenticeship reforms on the opportunities available to disadvantaged young people aged 16-24. This timely inquiry will be co-chaired by Conservative MP Michelle Donelan, and Labour MP Lilian Greenwood, alongside sector expert Peter Mayhew-Smith, Principal of Kingston and Carshalton Colleges

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Skills Commission

Worth the Wait? Policy Connect Responds to the Augar Review

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