I read a great article in The Observer (14.10.18) written by Kenan Malik (Twiitter: @kenanmalik) who explains “Amazon has apparently abandoned an AI system aimed at automating its recruitment process. The system gave job candidates scores ranging from one to five stars, a bit like the Amazon website.” Guess what happened? “The trouble was,…
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Today the DfE published updated versions of the statutory guidance for schools on careers guidance and access for education and training providers and guidance for further education colleges and sixth form colleges on careers guidance. The updates include: More information on new requirements/expectations that were introduced in September 2018: for schools and colleges to publish information about their…
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  Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Committee, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to highlight the stark disparity between funding for pre- and post-16 education and urge the Government to ‘look very carefully’ at the core level of funding for FE ahead of the Budget and Spending Review. In the letter  181015 –…
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Despite years of gender equality legislation, men outnumber women in management positions by two to one. While structural barriers continue to impede women’s career advancement, women themselves may be deterred from becoming managers if they perceive that it would have a negative impact on their working and personal lives. What is the experience of women in…
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Andy Cotgreave, Technical Evangelist and Senior Director, Tableau https://www.fenews.co.uk/featured-article/20724-ai-is-a-door-to-productivity-gains-but-data-literacy-holds-the-keys The report below by Andy Cotgrave for FE News warns of a potential skills shortage and also highlights the growing call for data literacy. Productivity is a very British problem. According to the latest figures from the OECD, us Brits are among the hardest workers in Europe,…
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  https://feweek.co.uk/2018/10/12/colleges-to-march-on-parliament-in-funding-protest/ Up to 3,000 people are expected to march on parliament on Wednesday 15th October  to demand more funding for colleges. The march for FE, organised by the University and College Union in partnership with the National Union of Students and the Association of Colleges, is the main event taking place during Colleges Week,…
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Incentivising even closer working between universities, colleges, and employers would bring significant benefits to our economy says University UK. This report calls for the National Careers Service in schools and colleges to do more but this vital careers support service for young people disappeared when contracts ended in September 2018. https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/reports/Pages/Routes-to-high-level-skills.aspx According to a new…
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    A new report by the Education Policy Institute undertakes a detailed analysis of University Technical Colleges (UTCs). https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/utcs/ Introduced in 2010, UTCs offer education to 14-19 year olds, with a strong focus on technical education. They are sponsored by universities and supported by employers. At present, there are 50 of this school type open in…
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Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman says the focus on performance data has narrowed what is taught in schools. She said, in a speech in Newcastle today, “inspections had placed too much weight on exam results”. There is now a growing expectation that Ofsted may inspect careers education and guidance in England’s schools and colleges under…
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