Next Tuesday, the Education Committee will hear from experts and
FE sector representatives on the potential impacts of planned
changes to BTECs and T Levels.
Following the general election, the Department for Education
announced a ‘short review' of planned reforms to post-16
qualifications. The reforms involved phasing out some BTECs by
withdrawing funding that schools and colleges receive in order to
teach them. The outcome of the review is due before the New
Year.
With almost 30% of students who started T Levels in 2022 failing
to complete them, the Committee may question how accessible the
qualifications are, and whether an over-reliance on them could
disproportionately impact young people from disadvantaged
backgrounds and those with special educational needs or
disabilities. MPs could also ask what the potential consequences
could be for students if alternative courses are no longer
available.
MPs may seek to understand how proposed reforms could impact both
students and education providers, as well as question how
realistic the proposed reforms are given the waning interest of
businesses to provide adequate placements for students
undertaking the qualifications. MPs may also question if regional
disparities in both access and achievement are likely to occur
due to variations in the availability of placements.
The Committee may ask whether the additional £300 million for
further education announced in the Budget is adequate and how
that funding will impact the sector. The Committee may also seek
to understand the broader challenges facing further education.
Witnesses from 10.00
· Ruth Perry, Senior Policy
Manager, Natspec
· James Kewin, Deputy Chief
Executive, Sixth Form Colleges Association
· Catherine Sezen, Director
of Education Policy, Association of Colleges
· Simon Cook, Principal of
MidKent College, FE representative on ASCL Council
From 11.00
· Alice Gardner, Chief
Executive, Edge Foundation
· David Robinson, Director of
Post 16 and Skills, Education Policy Institute
· Jenifer Burden, Director of
Programmes for Gatsby Education, Gatsby Charitable
Foundation
