The 'forgotten third'...will thread later on this if I can, but failure to provide adequately for those not on a university track is one of the most glaring (and self-defeating) injustices in UK today.

As I've said on many occasions, lots of skills policy focuses on supply-side issues (structures, qualifications, targets etc) and rarely does it focus on things which, for me, are much more important - the demand for, utilisation of and investment in skills.

I’m so lucky to do a job I love & believe in & honoured to be asked to continue for 2nd term. For me a vibrant FET sector is still seen by too many as a ‘nice to have’ rather than key to an inclusive society & skilled growing adaptable economy & thats our next challenge SOLAS

Great to see Learning and Work Institute data featuring in Financial Times piece today. Hopefully one day the charts will go in the right direction. Right now, disturbing is the word - we’re lagging other countries, it’s holding us back, and we’re not investing to catch up.

The £ rate for 16-18s will increase by 1.9% for 24/25 & a lot of adult education is delivered at 2013 prices. Much is made of universities feeling the pinch but this increase comes after nearly 15 years of austerity for FE colleges. Outside the sector, who cares?

And still nobody at the DfE or any of the Education Secretaries we've had in recent years can work out why there are crippling skills shortages in so many areas of the economy...

Just arrived at Broadcasting House for slot on The World Tonight on Radio4 at about 22.20 to discuss what we view as profound problems with GCSE English and maths resit policy

David Hughes CBE Not FE teacher pay? Not colleges paying VAT? Not lack of funded hours in 16-19? Disadvantaged kids getting a chance to catch up in English and maths is your top priority?

Good list, all priorities for colleges

Good luck to all students receiving their GCSE, vocational and technical Level 2 results today. #GCSEResultsDay #LoveOurColleges

“Labelling young people as failures at the age of 16 is a shocking way to motivate learners” – David Hughes CBE was on the BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight last night discussing the GCSE resit policy. You can listen here from 21:11: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Gr8 to have HE Minister Department for Education Jacqui Smith visit Durham University to meet young aspiring Ukrainian scientists at summer camp & Mary Kelly Foy MP to discuss widening access & participation, belonging & community, learning & skills, & DUs collaboration with local #FE Colleges

Me too by the looks of it

The changes announced today for schools is the right response for schools. Now we wait for the Ofsted plans for colleges to ensure that inspections work well for them as well

'There would have been a lot of support from college leaders and from parents and students for this to immediately change for colleges as well, and I look forward to hearing more from Ofsted about why that has not happened.' - David Hughes CBE 👏 aoc.co.uk/news-campaigns…

Great to see Jacqui Smith at a college this week when the sector is welcoming new and returning students. Nescot College showing off some amazing facilities & equipment which FE can offer. Julie Kapsalis Department for Education

Thin gruel for HE sector from Jacqui Smith addressing Universities UK annual conference. Admits bits of sector in "real financial peril"; says govt is "considering all options" but warns not to expect anything "overnight". Tl;dr: govt will do what it can, as long as its free/1

None of this any surprise -- Smith clearly implies her hands are tied by fiscal situation -- but as with Skills England (another 'review' to unify fractured education landscape) the solutions to well-known HE/FE problems are not imminent or easy./5

Worth reading Philip Augar's piece in @ft this week on what this really means: - mergers - resturcturing (probs underwritten by some public funds, despite promises not to) - new leadership at some unis; forced or otherwise. ft.com/content/491a63… ENDS

Good thread from Peter Foster & good overview article from Philip Augar of how universities in financial difficulties will need to act/change