Fi
@fionabardell.bsky.social
London-based Aussie. Public Affairs at AoC. Reader and perpetually searching for a decent oat cappuccino in London.
I'm always ready to chat FE, skills, books, travel recs and where to find the best pastries in London. All posts and opinions my own.
I'm always ready to chat FE, skills, books, travel recs and where to find the best pastries in London. All posts and opinions my own.
On the train to Bournemouth for Lib Dem Conf. Excited for the event @aoc-info.bsky.social is hosting with @edupolicyinst.bsky.social (Mon 22/9 at 1pm) and conversations with more MPs about how colleges are key drivers in skills, productivity and lifelong learning.
September 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
On the train to Bournemouth for Lib Dem Conf. Excited for the event @aoc-info.bsky.social is hosting with @edupolicyinst.bsky.social (Mon 22/9 at 1pm) and conversations with more MPs about how colleges are key drivers in skills, productivity and lifelong learning.
Any investment in the skills sector is welcome (& overdue). However, I'm really uncomfortable with the language around immigration.
I'm an immigrant, so is my partner, and so is a large chunk of my social network. The foreword of the new WP is worrying & not at all what I'd expect from a Lab gov.
I'm an immigrant, so is my partner, and so is a large chunk of my social network. The foreword of the new WP is worrying & not at all what I'd expect from a Lab gov.
May 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Any investment in the skills sector is welcome (& overdue). However, I'm really uncomfortable with the language around immigration.
I'm an immigrant, so is my partner, and so is a large chunk of my social network. The foreword of the new WP is worrying & not at all what I'd expect from a Lab gov.
I'm an immigrant, so is my partner, and so is a large chunk of my social network. The foreword of the new WP is worrying & not at all what I'd expect from a Lab gov.
Another PMQ's with another college mention.
Thanks to Chris Vince for highlighting the vital role that colleges, including @harlow-college.ac.uk in his constituency have in building the 1.5mil new homes.
Really good to hear how constituency colleges and their roles are being recognised in parli.
Thanks to Chris Vince for highlighting the vital role that colleges, including @harlow-college.ac.uk in his constituency have in building the 1.5mil new homes.
Really good to hear how constituency colleges and their roles are being recognised in parli.
March 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Another PMQ's with another college mention.
Thanks to Chris Vince for highlighting the vital role that colleges, including @harlow-college.ac.uk in his constituency have in building the 1.5mil new homes.
Really good to hear how constituency colleges and their roles are being recognised in parli.
Thanks to Chris Vince for highlighting the vital role that colleges, including @harlow-college.ac.uk in his constituency have in building the 1.5mil new homes.
Really good to hear how constituency colleges and their roles are being recognised in parli.
Reposted by Fi
For #CollegesWeek2025 I'm proud to draw attention to the incredible work of Bracknell and Wokingham College delivering cutting-edge skills education right in the heart of Bracknell
Great to see @peter4bracknell.bsky.social highlight our work in Parliament this week! 🎉
He spoke about how we're equipping young people with future-ready skills through courses and #apprenticeships in health, sustainable tech, construction & more. ⚡🔧
Thank you for your support!
#EduSky #FE_UK
He spoke about how we're equipping young people with future-ready skills through courses and #apprenticeships in health, sustainable tech, construction & more. ⚡🔧
Thank you for your support!
#EduSky #FE_UK
March 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
For #CollegesWeek2025 I'm proud to draw attention to the incredible work of Bracknell and Wokingham College delivering cutting-edge skills education right in the heart of Bracknell
Great to meet with Lib Dem Spokesperson for Skills and Universities @iansollom.bsky.social this morning during #CollegesWeek2025 to discuss all things colleges, further education and the upcoming IfATE Bill.
#LoveOurColleges @aoc-info.bsky.social
#LoveOurColleges @aoc-info.bsky.social
March 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Great to meet with Lib Dem Spokesperson for Skills and Universities @iansollom.bsky.social this morning during #CollegesWeek2025 to discuss all things colleges, further education and the upcoming IfATE Bill.
#LoveOurColleges @aoc-info.bsky.social
#LoveOurColleges @aoc-info.bsky.social
Disappointed and left feeling dispirited at the below decision by DfE and Treasury.
Those furthest away from the labour market - with so much potential to provide growth to the economy (including relief on the public purse) will lose out.
Short term "savings" lead to long term consequences.
Those furthest away from the labour market - with so much potential to provide growth to the economy (including relief on the public purse) will lose out.
Short term "savings" lead to long term consequences.
Exclusive: DfE has warned mayors their adult education budgets will be cut as part of government savings
This means £30 million in adult skills and 'free courses for jobs' cuts coming next academic year
feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
This means £30 million in adult skills and 'free courses for jobs' cuts coming next academic year
feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets
Combined authorities told to expect reductions in 'already deeply diminished' adult skills funding
feweek.co.uk
February 7, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Disappointed and left feeling dispirited at the below decision by DfE and Treasury.
Those furthest away from the labour market - with so much potential to provide growth to the economy (including relief on the public purse) will lose out.
Short term "savings" lead to long term consequences.
Those furthest away from the labour market - with so much potential to provide growth to the economy (including relief on the public purse) will lose out.
Short term "savings" lead to long term consequences.
Reposted by Fi
The world's richest man - perhaps the richest man who has ever lived - gloating about shutting down aid for the world's poorest people. All while posing as the champion of the common man.
The great lie of populism in its most naked and morally putrid form.
The great lie of populism in its most naked and morally putrid form.
February 3, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The world's richest man - perhaps the richest man who has ever lived - gloating about shutting down aid for the world's poorest people. All while posing as the champion of the common man.
The great lie of populism in its most naked and morally putrid form.
The great lie of populism in its most naked and morally putrid form.
Given this definition clarification - both my partner and most of my Aussie/Kiwi social network are illegals loose in London.
Statistics are important but how you use them is even more so.
Statistics are important but how you use them is even more so.
Correction in The Sun about the fearmongering story about all the illegals loose in London:
"The '1 in 12' figure included some legal migrants, for instance those given indefinite leave to remain and some British-born children of migrants with irregular status".
www.thesun.co.uk/clarificatio...
"The '1 in 12' figure included some legal migrants, for instance those given indefinite leave to remain and some British-born children of migrants with irregular status".
www.thesun.co.uk/clarificatio...
January 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Given this definition clarification - both my partner and most of my Aussie/Kiwi social network are illegals loose in London.
Statistics are important but how you use them is even more so.
Statistics are important but how you use them is even more so.
Thanks for meeting with me this morning and great to chat all things FE and skills! @aoc-info.bsky.social
Great to talk with the UK Association of Colleges this morning ❤️
As you know, Weston College, apprenticeships & further education are close to my heart & supporting the College to deliver for everyone who needs education, skills and training in Weston-super-Mare is something I take very seriously.
As you know, Weston College, apprenticeships & further education are close to my heart & supporting the College to deliver for everyone who needs education, skills and training in Weston-super-Mare is something I take very seriously.
January 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Thanks for meeting with me this morning and great to chat all things FE and skills! @aoc-info.bsky.social
We look forward to seeing you and your local college at our parliamentary reception later today!
Today I am mainly preparing for the business select committee session tomorrow on arms exports to Israel, and doing a few skills things - education questions in the chamber, and an event with the Association of Colleges (including our local colleges)
December 9, 2024 at 10:15 AM
We look forward to seeing you and your local college at our parliamentary reception later today!
Frustrated that the petition for yet another GE is getting so much attention.
It hasn't even been 150 days.
Destroying something can take seconds, a life-changing injury, a tragic accident or a push of the wrong button.
Rebuilding anything - health, a skills system, an economy takes time.
It hasn't even been 150 days.
Destroying something can take seconds, a life-changing injury, a tragic accident or a push of the wrong button.
Rebuilding anything - health, a skills system, an economy takes time.
November 27, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Frustrated that the petition for yet another GE is getting so much attention.
It hasn't even been 150 days.
Destroying something can take seconds, a life-changing injury, a tragic accident or a push of the wrong button.
Rebuilding anything - health, a skills system, an economy takes time.
It hasn't even been 150 days.
Destroying something can take seconds, a life-changing injury, a tragic accident or a push of the wrong button.
Rebuilding anything - health, a skills system, an economy takes time.
Interesting article by @pmdfoster.bsky.social on Skills England.
The points articulated here were also strongly highlighted by Peers of all parties during the 1st day of Committee of the IFATE Bill, where the consensus was a great ambition but flimsy execution.
It's so important we get this right
The points articulated here were also strongly highlighted by Peers of all parties during the 1st day of Committee of the IFATE Bill, where the consensus was a great ambition but flimsy execution.
It's so important we get this right
NEW: Labour’s much-vaunted promise of Skills England to “transform” apprenticeships, training and FE offer is looking very low-wattage. My latest.
Labour’s skills strategy under fire for lack of ‘clout’ and urgency on.ft.com/49mzoBP
Labour’s skills strategy under fire for lack of ‘clout’ and urgency on.ft.com/49mzoBP
Labour’s skills strategy under fire for lack of ‘clout’ and urgency
[FREE TO READ] Business and education experts say diminished role for companies could undermine reforms
on.ft.com
November 25, 2024 at 10:29 AM
Interesting article by @pmdfoster.bsky.social on Skills England.
The points articulated here were also strongly highlighted by Peers of all parties during the 1st day of Committee of the IFATE Bill, where the consensus was a great ambition but flimsy execution.
It's so important we get this right
The points articulated here were also strongly highlighted by Peers of all parties during the 1st day of Committee of the IFATE Bill, where the consensus was a great ambition but flimsy execution.
It's so important we get this right
I really think that Parliament TV should let you watch at 1.5x, 2x speed etc.
The amount of time this would save me (hours), the amount of amusement I would get hearing speeches at 2 or 3x speed (endless).
The amount of time this would save me (hours), the amount of amusement I would get hearing speeches at 2 or 3x speed (endless).
November 21, 2024 at 10:57 AM
I really think that Parliament TV should let you watch at 1.5x, 2x speed etc.
The amount of time this would save me (hours), the amount of amusement I would get hearing speeches at 2 or 3x speed (endless).
The amount of time this would save me (hours), the amount of amusement I would get hearing speeches at 2 or 3x speed (endless).
Good to see so many MPs not just mention their local college but show a deeper understanding of their work in this afternoon's debate in Westminster Hall on apprenticeships & T Levels.
This is all due to the work of colleges.
This is all due to the work of colleges.
November 20, 2024 at 4:58 PM
Good to see so many MPs not just mention their local college but show a deeper understanding of their work in this afternoon's debate in Westminster Hall on apprenticeships & T Levels.
This is all due to the work of colleges.
This is all due to the work of colleges.
I finally decided to make the jump from X.
What to expect;
*A lot of FE and skills content
* Parliamentary recaps on FE and skills
* Some wider political content
What to expect;
*A lot of FE and skills content
* Parliamentary recaps on FE and skills
* Some wider political content
November 19, 2024 at 2:36 PM
I finally decided to make the jump from X.
What to expect;
*A lot of FE and skills content
* Parliamentary recaps on FE and skills
* Some wider political content
What to expect;
*A lot of FE and skills content
* Parliamentary recaps on FE and skills
* Some wider political content