FE & Apprenticeships: September political and media roundup

Welcome to Bridgehead Education's latest monthly news roundup of 2024, that explores and analyses trends in the coverage of "further education" and "apprenticeship(s)" in the UK media landscape throughout September.

In September, there were 1,530 mentions of either "further education" or "apprenticeship(s)" in the UK media, a 23 per cent decrease on recorded mentions in August.

The figures for this September do, however, represent a five per cent increase on those of the same month in 2023. 

The chart below plots the mentions of "further education" and "apprenticeship(s)" in the media over the last twelve months.

What happened across the further education sector this month?

Conference season brings promise of change 

It’s been another important month for the further education sector.

We kicked off with the news that former Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, Helen Hayes, had been appointed Chair of the Education select committee. In her election statement, the Dulwich and West Norwood MP pledged an “ambitious programme of inquiries” in a range of issues, including a fit-for-purpose skills system.

In the middling weeks, as the Labour Conference loomed, two major reports were released advocating for change in the FE and apprenticeships system. 

One was conducted by Multiverse, and explored how the proposed new Growth and Skills Levy could be designed most effectively in order to future proof organisations, close criticla skills gaps, and unlock economic growth. The levy should be, they concluded, employer-led, easily accessible, for everyone, and excellence driven. The report also pitched the introduction of a “Right to Reskill" programme, which would "encourage employers to increase investment in their workforce and helps employees respond to changes in the workplace brought about by new technology." 

Another report that attracted significant attention this month was conducted by the NFER, which found that pay differentials versus schools and industry is contributing to significant shortages in recruitment and retention in further education (FE) colleges across the country. It made several recommendations as to how the issues can be addressed by both government and colleges themselves. Among these, the report recommends an increase in funding to the FE sector to help colleges, at a minimum, match FE teacher pay with that of school teachers; and to devise a long-term evidence-based strategy and concrete resources to help reduce FE teacher workload, similar to what exists for schools. 

But perhaps the key headline of this month came after the Prime Minister’s speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool, in which he fleshed out the government’s plans to fix the ‘broken’ skills system that they inherited in office. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that major apprenticeship levy reform will go ahead to enhance flexibility, boost opportunity for young people, and tailor training to tackle the most significant skills shortages affecting businesses and industries across the UK.

The new 'Growth and Skills' levy will allow funding for shorter apprenticeships by lifting the current 12 month minimum duration requirement, will be targeted at supporting apprentices in key growth sectors, will support the introduction of foundation apprenticeships for young people, and will encourage businesses to fund more of their higher level apprenticeships outside of the levy. 

"We've got to give businesses more flexibility to adapt to real raining needs, and also unlock the pride and ambition that young people feel when building a future not just for themselves, but for their community", the Prime Minister said today at the Labour conference. "We will rebalance funding in our training system back to young people and align that with what businesses really need."

"We've got to give businesses more flexibility to adapt to real raining needs, and also unlock the pride and ambition that young people feel when building a future not just for themselves, but for their community"

Finally, the Department for Education's much-anticipated ‘national conversation’ on curriculum review launched its 8-week consultation on September 25. The review, led by Professor Becky Francis, has invited young people, parents, employers and education staff, leaders and experts to take part in a ‘national conversation’ about how the curriculum and assessment system can better prepare young people for life and work. The review’s recommendations will be put forward in 2025.

While we wait to see exactly how things unfold across the further education sphere, here are our top five stories of the month.

What were September's top five further education stories?

Gov.UK - Prime Minister overhauls apprenticeships to support opportunity

"The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today announced a new growth and skills levy which will replace the existing apprenticeship levy and include new foundation apprenticeships."

NFER - How improving pay and working conditions can help support FE college teacher supply

"Further education (FE) is key in delivering technical and academic qualification to post-16 students in England but has recently been facing significant challenges, including critical staff shortages in some subject areas. This mixed-methods research, commissioned by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation investigates some of the key barriers colleges face in recruiting and retaining staff in three subject areas: Construction, Engineering and Digital."

Multiverse - Skills Mission Putting the ‘growth’ in the Growth and Skills Levy

"The rapid evolution of technology and the age of AI are transforming the world of work. Changes to the Apprenticeship Levy are on the horizon. We commissioned policy and research agency Public First to explore how the new Growth and Skills Levy can help empower the workforce with the skills they need to thrive."

FE Week - AI can pass almost all level 3 assessments, study finds

"Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can pass almost all types of level 3 assessments, a new study has found. The Open University found that AI performed “particularly highly” at this advanced level across a range of subjects, although its performance was lower at higher levels of 4 and above."

FE Week - Mayors’ powers are key to unlocking skills for growth

"Five months ago, the people of the region elected me the Mayor of the West Midlands. It’s a role with significant powers and influence, and I’m committed to using it to create lasting change. Education and skills are at the heart of my plans to do that."