🧵 New ONS data reveals another increase to NEET rates—especially for young women and those aged 21–24. I'm making my first foray on Bluesky to share my thoughts! The stats show 948,000 young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET). That’s 12.8% of all 16–24 year olds.

Other results are also available.

I know lots of results are being collected today, but it's great to see adult learners achieve GCSE English and/or maths. Nearly all of these learners studied whilst juggling work, family & other commitments, & many had deep hang-ups re starting last September. Well played 👏👏👏

If any legal firm wants to set up a fundraiser to sue Robinson for libel on behalf of Ayeni I will happily contribute. (Assuming he wants to sue).

Clear pattern emerging: impact of new taxes on private schools, non-doms and large farms is far smaller than typically suggested. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

He's been! He's been!

If you’ve been following @noblefrancis.bsky.social this won’t come as a surprise. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's also a national disgrace that many of these young people go to their local FE college and become brickies, chippies, sparkies, designers, engineers, platers, welders, hairdressers, carers etc and these achievements don't get the recognition they deserve.

if I ever go properly "screaming about nothing in particular in the street" mad it will be due to having spent too much time having read about the opinions of men who have absolutely never cared about women's rights for one moment in their lives but decided to pretend just for the sake of racism

New post just out: "The Great VAT Panic" The claims made by the right-wing press about VAT on private school fees were wildly wrong. Why? What are the lessons about about (how not to) run a lobbying campaign? And what can government learn? (£/free) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

ASCL FE Advisory Board member, Principal and CEO @darrenhankey.bsky.social writes in Leader on the challenges colleges face trying to deliver qualifications to young people under the current financial constraints of a severely neglected sector: (member log in required): ow.ly/oWCx50WlHhB!

There’s an emerging sense of scandal around the children’s homes company Dimensions Care, which is owned by financial investors. Overlooked by national media, thus far… www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr...

In case you were wondering, that sound you can hear is the scraping of deckchairs as they are frantically rearranged at Ofsted towers.

Next Thursday sees the release of this year's level 3 results. Let's see how many folk, who should really know better, omit recognising the achievements of 000s of people who achieve vocational/technical qualifications 👀

Many of our focus group participants stated difficulties accessing the flexibility they require at work, and instead turn to non-traditional forms of work, including zero-hours contracts and self-employment. But this comes with drawbacks - particularly the lack of employment rights.

"The UK starts from a low baseline: we have some of the weakest worker protections in the OECD."

LET IT FLOW! Farage spreading lies again as sewage problem escalates. Here's today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon... www.shareyourstories.live/northern-agenda/

UK vehicle manufactures have fallen to the lowest level since 1953 reports BBC and Guardian. Lots of stuff on Trump tariffs and EVs. Yet, looking at the data the dramatic rupture seems to be in 2016. A total mystery what that was....

I can understand the American President's anger at South Park. I was a novice teacher when this chap was introduced to our screens. IYKYK

Indeed. Something we reflected on in this recent report. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...

For decades, skills policy has focused on supply-side issues with tweaks to qualifications, structures & targets dominating. The demand for, utilisation of and investment in skills rarely get a mention 👇

Whatever the merits of the policy on information on work checks, this seems ill-judged and inappropriate messagimg & imagery from the UK government.

Not great and in addition to the 23k who lost jobs in FE between 2010-17.

I'm not convinced Allison has ever met the British Army. The officers are generally somewhere on the political spectrum between James Cleverly and Dan Jarvis. It would end up being the first ever centrist coup*.

Some interesting stuff.

A new IPR report by researchers from @uniofbath.bsky.social, @edgeuk.bsky.social and FFT Education Datalab, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, examines the Raising of the Participation Age, which aims to keep more young people in #education and training. buff.ly/ZlD5aER 🧵

The intent behind T Levels is laudable, but far too many places across England just do not have the economy to support the 45-day industry placements at scale. This problem has not been addressed & there are no clear solutions on the horizon.

ASCL FE Advisory Board member, Principal and CEO @darrenhankey.bsky.social writes on the challenges colleges face trying to deliver qualifications to young people under the current financial constraints of a severely neglected sector: (member log in required): ow.ly/oWCx50WlHhB!

It remains, along with the welfare cap, the undisputed worst policy of my lifetime. Piling on future costs and present misery for zero benefit beyond a few Sun and Mail page leads.

Standard.

Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1977, photo by Belgian photographer Martine Franck (1938-2012).

🔥 16 hottest education related research papers from the last 8 weeks: (all open source 🔓) ↓

Interesting stuff and lots for policymakers to ponder especially in terms of reducing policy churn and ensuring more employers take on apprentices.

Interesting stuff. There's much more for employers and policymakers to do to ensure high quality work experience opportunities are available for young people.

The C&G report shows that investment in adult education is now 40% less in real-terms vs 2010. That's bad BUT in 2008 the loss of 1.5 million adult learner places in the previous two years prompted a multi-agency campaign. It's a continuing and catastrophic decline. tinyurl.com/ye3nsmax

An interesting report out today by City & Guilds. A gentle reminder: -Investment in 16-18 education is currently ~10% less in real-terms vs 2010. -For adult education the figure is ~40% -Employer investment in skills is at a 20-year low. www.cityandguilds.com/news/july-20...

Perhaps worth thinking about the costs of getting to net zero in the context of the costs (economic & human) of this… www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Yesterday we welcomed Year 10s from Dyke House School for Day 3 of our #FELife sessions. They got stuck into hands-on tasters in Joinery, Brickwork, Engineering, Catering, Aerospace, VR Policing and more. Today, we welcome Easington & Northfield Schools #TransformingLives #CollegeLife

All of this was predicted but, as ever, policymakers didn't listen. Whilst the intent behind T Levels is laudable, the fact is far too many places across England don't have the economy to sustain the industry placements at scale.

1. Interestingly / disappointingly the proportion of 16, 17 & 18 year olds in education or apprenticeships has FALLEN since the education participation age was raised to 18 in England in 2015. Biggest drop for 18 year olds. None are huge, but lines were meant to go up & we need to do better.

Talent is widespread, opportunity isn't.

#TheSmithsTop30 6. What Difference Does It Make? "All men have secrets, and here is mine So let it be known" youtu.be/XbOx8TyvUmI?...

Love this.

"The Member for Clacton demands billions of pounds more in unfunded tax cuts for the very richest" "... while he marches through the lobbies in the House of Commons to vote against sick pay for the lowest earners." ⚠️Reform are the party of the billionaires, not the people.

🆕 BRIEFING | Eight sectors, one story Our latest briefing sets out the geography of the eight chosen sectors in the Industrial Strategy and what this means for its implementation. Read the briefing 👇 buff.ly/eKA9qf4

A short 🧵 on this piece by an ex Biden adviser in the FT. First, and most obviously, a lot of “left behind” places are short of the growth industries identified in the IS, which is an important reason why they’re “left behind” Not much in the IS for places like Blackpool.

Our heads are bloodied but unbowed

This is the freight train almost no one has noticed coming down the tracks. Wage stagnation, expensive housing, smaller private pensions are going to be a terrible combination.

If Jeff Bezos can spend that much on a wedding, he can afford to pay his taxes and his workers.

Talent is widespread, opportunity isn't.