The events post budget in the last month have shown what happens when free market ideology collides with the stark reality of our times. It’s not good, and the collision will probably slide well into 2023 as recognition of a…
The Office for Students (OfS) ‘Consultation on a new approach to regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education’ closed at noon today. It marks an ‘upping the ante’ on universities that are already under severe pressure. By putting the…
Now the dust is beginning to settle this week after the skirmishes surrounding the leadership of the Conservative party, it appears that the Department for Education (DfE) will begin to turn around in a major way. Prime minister Sunak’s pledge…
News emerged last week that T-level examinations turned out to be ‘unreliable’ this summer. One assessment organisation, the Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE) has been plagued by gremlins to such an extent that there had been rumblings and complaints…
With yet another Conservative administration under Rishi Sunak about to set sail, it appears that a crisis in public finances is inevitable. Sunak is promising to adhere to the Conservative 2019 manifesto, but this is looking frayed at the edges…
Hidden in the background of extraordinary chaos across the government, the financial markets and fall of the Prime Minister, we learned that school examinations next year will be tightened further to bring the results in line with pre-pandemic levels. This…
With the dust settling in Birmingham after the Conservative conference this week, it seems the horizon is still not clearly visible and is out of focus. Most observers watched the conference horror show unfold with a morbid fascination. The role…
This is a message to all those in the government who claim to know how to manage Higher Education with a high degree of ‘Militant Ignorance’ (*see footnote). The pivotal role of universities should not be denigrated with false premise…
The budget over a week ago sent a shock wave across the UK economy and brought it to the brink of disaster. A substantial intervention by the Bank of England was needed. Interest rates rose sharply and government bonds and…
The Labour party held its annual conference in Liverpool between Sunday and Wednesday of this week. With a mounting crisis for students in Higher Education, it was hoped that the Labour Party would offer some alternative policy as a matter…
