By Ian Nash Are Ofsted inspection reports still fit for purpose? Where weaknesses are indicated, do they do what is intended and create the right incentives for colleges and other providers to improve? Moreover, do the reports accurately reflect what …

Analysis suggests Ofsted reports fail to give a fair and balanced picture of performance in further education Read more »

As Parliament went into recess, the Policy Consortium’s Ian Nash cheekily rummaged through the wastepaper bins of the Commons Library and other places to find the ‘lost’ speech that Opposition Leader Ed Miliband should have delivered at last week’s Sutton …

Has Labour lost the plot — or, just a speech? Read more »

Mick Fletcher, member of the Policy Consortium, scrutinises the DfE impact assessment for the cut to funding for 18 year olds. Imagine a man (let’s call him Matthew) who is embarrassed at his short stature. Instead of saying he is …

DfE can’t disguise a hit on the disadvantaged Read more »

Colin Forrest, Carolyn Medlin and Mike Cooper of the Policy Consortium analyse what Sir Michael Wilshaw’s Ofsted Annual Report for 2012/13 says about further education and college improvement. This is an extended version of the post ‘Setting the scene for …

Ofsted still found to be in much need of improvement Read more »