Are young people being offered the right opportunities and
support to excel in their futures, whether they opt for academic
or technical and vocational routes? The Education Committee will
examine what reforms are needed to improve post-16 education as
it holds the first session of its inquiry into further education
and skills on Tuesday, 25th March.
In the UK, it is compulsory for young people to remain in
education or training until they turn 18. However, the post-16
education landscape is facing a series of growing pressures which
threaten to diminish the quality of opportunities for young
people and their future prospects.
In this wide-ranging session, the Committee will question experts
on how accessibility of post-16 education for students with
special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could be
improved, and explore what further support is needed for
disadvantaged students to reduce the attainment gap. They may
also scrutinise how successful T Levels have been and if measures
are needed to strengthen them.
MPs will then hear from a second panel of witnesses, including
representatives of the University and College Union, the
Association of Colleges and the Sixth Form Colleges Association,
with questions likely to focus on funding for the sector. MPs may
probe witnesses on challenges with staff pay and retention and
the impact of reduced funding on the further education sector.
Witnesses from 10.00am
- Alice Gardner, Chief Executive, Edge Foundation
- Darren Hankey, Principal and CEO of Hartlepool FE College,
representative of the ASCL union
- Robert Nitsch CBE, Chief Executive, Federation of Awarding
Bodies
- David Robinson, Director of Post 16 and Skills, Education
Policy Institute
Witness from 11.00am
- Jo Grady, General Secretary, University and College
Union
-
, Chief Executive,
Association of Colleges
- Imran Tahir, Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal
Studies
- Bill Watkin CBE, Chief Executive, Sixth Form Colleges
Association
