Mick Fletcher of the Policy Consortium investigates the underlying messages behind one of the more unexpected proposals within the current BIS consultation about extending the scope of FE Loans. In the rush to get away at the end of term, FE people may have …
Mick Fletcher responds to the first funding announcement from the new Skills Minister, Nick Boles. This piece appeared originally in the ‘FE Experts’ section of ‘FE Week’ on 22nd July 2014. It was perhaps inevitable that the decision of the …
Mick Fletcher writes about the necessity of a new strategic vision for policy which places the individual at the centre of genuine choice in learning. This is a slightly-adapted version of an article that first appeared in the Summer 2014 edition …
Mick Fletcher’s latest blog was originally published in ‘FE Week’ on 20 June 2014. He suggests that the BIS plan for National Colleges once again raises the ugly spectre of class prejudice. The idea that the problems of English FE …
In an article originally published (in a slightly different and shorter form) by ‘FE Week’ on 6 June 2014, Policy Consortium member Mick Fletcher considers the introduction of a mandatory 33% contribution by employers to the funding of Apprenticeships. The new BIS guidance …
Apprenticeship funding: too generous, but off-putting to small firms Read more »
Mick Fletcher comments. The latest EFA funding letter for 16-19 year old students covering the 2014/15 academic year can be found here [PDF]. Those with the time and energy might want to compare it with the equivalent letter for last …
Mick Fletcher looks at different takes on employer ownership of vocational qualification reforms … All the headlines about the long awaited Skills Funding Statement were understandably about the 19% cut to adult FE funding and the climb down on loans …
A better way to reform vocational qualifications 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 …
Mick Fletcher and Seb Schmoller explore the mysteries of government policy on apprenticeships Some aspects of government policy on apprenticeships are baffling. The confusion may however be explained by two big problems that confront politicians dealing with education and training. …
Mick Fletcher of the Policy Consortium reads between the lines. It is always important when reading government papers to look for the sub text as well as at the surface but in the case of the recently concluded consultation on …
Has the government secretly given up on 16–19 apprenticeships? Read more »