Commenting on the Prime Minister’s plans for further and higher education unveiled in his Party Conference speech, Robbie Cruikshanks, Senior Researcher (Higher Education) at the Education Policy Institute, said:
“We welcome the government’s commitment to a more unified higher and further education system, with a long awaited focus on Higher Technical Qualifications.
“The government is right to acknowledge that meeting these new targets require investment in further education to raise quality. The plans for expanded professional development for FE teachers is a welcome announcement as our own research has highlighted the workforce quality gap and the important role of continuous training in improving learner outcomes and narrowing disparities.
“This is an important opportunity to make sure additional funding in the FE sector is targeted to disadvantaged students. A dedicated 16–19 student premium, which we have called for, would help ensure that additional resources reach the young people who need them most.”
