Sarah Waite
@sarahjwaite.bsky.social
Former teacher & Labour education adviser, now CEO of @getfurther.bsky.social #loveourcolleges
Pinned
Sarah Waite
@sarahjwaite.bsky.social
· Aug 14
What Bridget Phillipson can learn from Conservative education policy
In a new book, the former schools minister Nick Gibb defends a strong, if controversial legacy.
www.newstatesman.com
From Labour education adviser to mum with a phonics book - my @newstatesman.com review of former Schools Minister Nick Gibb’s book, Reforming Lessons.
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Sarah Waite
I thought this was going to turn into a story needing its own True Crime Netflix series, but no.
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
'We invited a homeless man for dinner - he stayed for 45 years'
The man was only meant to stay for a day.
metro.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I thought this was going to turn into a story needing its own True Crime Netflix series, but no.
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
This is quite something.
metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/w...
For 7 years, @getfurther.bsky.social has been focused on improving GCSE resit pass rates. We turned that learning into policy ideas, rooted in a deep understanding of the students & belief in their potential.
Delighted the Gov’t is progressing our proposal for a new L1 English &maths stepping-stone
Delighted the Gov’t is progressing our proposal for a new L1 English &maths stepping-stone
We are delighted that yesterday’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper included the introduction of new level 1 stepping stone qualifications in GCSE English and maths.
Read our full statement on our blog: getfurther.org.uk/post-16-educ...
And highlights in the thread below 👇
Read our full statement on our blog: getfurther.org.uk/post-16-educ...
And highlights in the thread below 👇
Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper - Our Response - Get Further
We are delighted that today’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper includes the introduction of new level 1 stepping stone qualifications in GCSE English and maths. These will support young people...
getfurther.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 7:42 AM
For 7 years, @getfurther.bsky.social has been focused on improving GCSE resit pass rates. We turned that learning into policy ideas, rooted in a deep understanding of the students & belief in their potential.
Delighted the Gov’t is progressing our proposal for a new L1 English &maths stepping-stone
Delighted the Gov’t is progressing our proposal for a new L1 English &maths stepping-stone
Imagine if Top of the Pops still existed
These are the top ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. I think this is bad for society.
October 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Imagine if Top of the Pops still existed
Reposted by Sarah Waite
Maybe the answer to political apathy, trust, and populism is for everyone to be a local councillor for a few weeks.
*gasp*
October 6, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Maybe the answer to political apathy, trust, and populism is for everyone to be a local councillor for a few weeks.
Incredibly moving piece.
What it’s like to be Jewish in Britain now. The war in Gaza has exposed a level of anti-Semitism I didn’t realise was there. @RMCunliffe.bsky.social
The 7 October attacks changed what it means to be Jewish in Britain
The war in Gaza has exposed a level of anti-Semitism I didn’t realise was there
www.newstatesman.com
October 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Incredibly moving piece.
🙌 It’s exciting to hear the Prime Minister commit to ending further education’s ‘Cinderella’ status, with higher standards in colleges – and to set the ambition that two-thirds of young people will go on to university or a gold-standard apprenticeship.
September 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🙌 It’s exciting to hear the Prime Minister commit to ending further education’s ‘Cinderella’ status, with higher standards in colleges – and to set the ambition that two-thirds of young people will go on to university or a gold-standard apprenticeship.
See below for one example of how GCSE resit results could be improved - by stamping out this sort of thing and actually teaching young people!
I’m not sure what happens at some centres but there was literally no teaching for students who retook Maths in Nov after their first ‘failure’. As if miraculously those students would acquire knowledge and understanding in their own!!
August 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
See below for one example of how GCSE resit results could be improved - by stamping out this sort of thing and actually teaching young people!
🚨 GCSE resits aren’t the problem. Not holding GCSEs is.
There’s a lot of concern in the news about GCSE resits today. What’s missing is concern for the young people who don’t secure passes in English and maths, and what that means for their futures.
Here’s the reality 🧵
There’s a lot of concern in the news about GCSE resits today. What’s missing is concern for the young people who don’t secure passes in English and maths, and what that means for their futures.
Here’s the reality 🧵
Yesterday, BBC Midlands Today joined us at South & City College Birmingham to speak to some students from our tuition programme about their GCSE results. Here are some highlights from the day, and insights into why programmes like this are so important, particularly in the West Midlands 👇
August 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
🚨 GCSE resits aren’t the problem. Not holding GCSEs is.
There’s a lot of concern in the news about GCSE resits today. What’s missing is concern for the young people who don’t secure passes in English and maths, and what that means for their futures.
Here’s the reality 🧵
There’s a lot of concern in the news about GCSE resits today. What’s missing is concern for the young people who don’t secure passes in English and maths, and what that means for their futures.
Here’s the reality 🧵
Good explanation by @jonhutchinson.bsky.social of what comparable outcomes does - tackling some of the misinformation that gets circulated every GCSE results day 👇
No - it’s not true.
It’s a little complicated, but it would be possible for 100% of children nationally to receive a grade 9 in every subject.
Grades at GCSE are weakly criterion referenced, not norm referenced.
It’s a little complicated, but it would be possible for 100% of children nationally to receive a grade 9 in every subject.
Grades at GCSE are weakly criterion referenced, not norm referenced.
August 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Good explanation by @jonhutchinson.bsky.social of what comparable outcomes does - tackling some of the misinformation that gets circulated every GCSE results day 👇
A decade ago, I was critiquing Tory education reforms for Labour.
Today, I’m teaching my son to read using the very strategies former Schools Minister Nick Gibb championed.
In my @newstatesman.com review of Gibb’s book, I explore what he got right, what he missed, and how Labour could go further.
Today, I’m teaching my son to read using the very strategies former Schools Minister Nick Gibb championed.
In my @newstatesman.com review of Gibb’s book, I explore what he got right, what he missed, and how Labour could go further.
In a new book, the former schools minister Nick Gibb defends a strong, if controversial legacy.
What Bridget Phillipson can learn from Conservative education policy
www.newstatesman.com
August 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A decade ago, I was critiquing Tory education reforms for Labour.
Today, I’m teaching my son to read using the very strategies former Schools Minister Nick Gibb championed.
In my @newstatesman.com review of Gibb’s book, I explore what he got right, what he missed, and how Labour could go further.
Today, I’m teaching my son to read using the very strategies former Schools Minister Nick Gibb championed.
In my @newstatesman.com review of Gibb’s book, I explore what he got right, what he missed, and how Labour could go further.
From Labour education adviser to mum with a phonics book - my @newstatesman.com review of former Schools Minister Nick Gibb’s book, Reforming Lessons.
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
What Bridget Phillipson can learn from Conservative education policy
In a new book, the former schools minister Nick Gibb defends a strong, if controversial legacy.
www.newstatesman.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
From Labour education adviser to mum with a phonics book - my @newstatesman.com review of former Schools Minister Nick Gibb’s book, Reforming Lessons.
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
🔗 www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
As a former Labour education advisor & @teachfirst.bsky.social ambassador, I genuinely don’t believe anyone on the political side of government wants to undermine the impact of Teach First.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Ministers step in to save Teach First | The Observer
Leading brand that trains teachers for most deprived areas of the UK to get reprieve after bureaucrats accused of trying to scrap it
observer.co.uk
July 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As a former Labour education advisor & @teachfirst.bsky.social ambassador, I genuinely don’t believe anyone on the political side of government wants to undermine the impact of Teach First.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
The PM’s AI announcement is a reminder: AI is built on maths - data, algorithms, analytical thinking.
Yet too few continue maths after 16. I wrote about the @mathshorizons.bsky.social report’s call for a 16–19 maths entitlement 👇
🔗 feweek.co.uk/we-must-multip…#MathsEducationo#AIAI
Yet too few continue maths after 16. I wrote about the @mathshorizons.bsky.social report’s call for a 16–19 maths entitlement 👇
🔗 feweek.co.uk/we-must-multip…#MathsEducationo#AIAI
June 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
The PM’s AI announcement is a reminder: AI is built on maths - data, algorithms, analytical thinking.
Yet too few continue maths after 16. I wrote about the @mathshorizons.bsky.social report’s call for a 16–19 maths entitlement 👇
🔗 feweek.co.uk/we-must-multip…#MathsEducationo#AIAI
Yet too few continue maths after 16. I wrote about the @mathshorizons.bsky.social report’s call for a 16–19 maths entitlement 👇
🔗 feweek.co.uk/we-must-multip…#MathsEducationo#AIAI
Last year, college/FE teachers were left out of the school teacher pay rise. A baffling, unjust omission (yes, I made grumpy posts).
What a difference a year makes.
Today’s funding uplift for all 16-19 colleges and providers to match school teacher pay is hugely welcome. 👏
#loveourcolleges
What a difference a year makes.
Today’s funding uplift for all 16-19 colleges and providers to match school teacher pay is hugely welcome. 👏
#loveourcolleges
May 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Last year, college/FE teachers were left out of the school teacher pay rise. A baffling, unjust omission (yes, I made grumpy posts).
What a difference a year makes.
Today’s funding uplift for all 16-19 colleges and providers to match school teacher pay is hugely welcome. 👏
#loveourcolleges
What a difference a year makes.
Today’s funding uplift for all 16-19 colleges and providers to match school teacher pay is hugely welcome. 👏
#loveourcolleges
Big news - @getfurther.bsky.social has been shortlisted for The Charity Awards 2025!
So proud to see our work recognised. Huge thanks to the students, tutors, colleges, funders, staff and trustees who made this happen - this one’s for you.
#CharityAwards #GetFurther #ProudMoment
So proud to see our work recognised. Huge thanks to the students, tutors, colleges, funders, staff and trustees who made this happen - this one’s for you.
#CharityAwards #GetFurther #ProudMoment
🎉 We’re thrilled to announce we’ve been shortlisted as finalists for The Charity Awards 2025 in the Education & Training category for our GCSE Resit Tuition Programme! Find out more about the programme and why we've been shortlisted here: charityawards.co.uk/2025-awards/...
Or in the thread below 👇
Or in the thread below 👇
May 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Big news - @getfurther.bsky.social has been shortlisted for The Charity Awards 2025!
So proud to see our work recognised. Huge thanks to the students, tutors, colleges, funders, staff and trustees who made this happen - this one’s for you.
#CharityAwards #GetFurther #ProudMoment
So proud to see our work recognised. Huge thanks to the students, tutors, colleges, funders, staff and trustees who made this happen - this one’s for you.
#CharityAwards #GetFurther #ProudMoment
Today, The Sutton Trust published its Opportunity Index.
Two constituencies, 22 minutes apart by train - and a world apart in opportunity.
#6 - Cities of London and Westminster
#467 - Reading Central
Two constituencies, 22 minutes apart by train - and a world apart in opportunity.
#6 - Cities of London and Westminster
#467 - Reading Central
💬"The research shows the dramatic differences in children’s prospects, depending on where in England they happen to be born."
Our new research finds stark inequalities in access to opportunity in different areas of the country.
Our data in @theguardian.com ⤵️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Our new research finds stark inequalities in access to opportunity in different areas of the country.
Our data in @theguardian.com ⤵️
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
London dominates England’s social mobility league with top 20 places
Sutton Trust’s ‘opportunity index’ measured six factors including children on free school meals passing GCSEs in maths and English
www.theguardian.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Today, The Sutton Trust published its Opportunity Index.
Two constituencies, 22 minutes apart by train - and a world apart in opportunity.
#6 - Cities of London and Westminster
#467 - Reading Central
Two constituencies, 22 minutes apart by train - and a world apart in opportunity.
#6 - Cities of London and Westminster
#467 - Reading Central
English education is unequal. The % of year 11s with a private tutor has more than doubled in a decade. Yet policies to provide free tutoring to those who can’t afford it were stopped👇
Fifth of state pupils have private tutor at GCSE (and it’s not cheap)
www.thetimes.com/article/7e9f...
Fifth of state pupils have private tutor at GCSE (and it’s not cheap)
www.thetimes.com/article/7e9f...
Fifth of state pupils have private tutor at GCSE (and it’s not cheap)
Some have one helper per subject and there are even residential courses at £2,000 a week
www.thetimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 6:42 AM
English education is unequal. The % of year 11s with a private tutor has more than doubled in a decade. Yet policies to provide free tutoring to those who can’t afford it were stopped👇
Fifth of state pupils have private tutor at GCSE (and it’s not cheap)
www.thetimes.com/article/7e9f...
Fifth of state pupils have private tutor at GCSE (and it’s not cheap)
www.thetimes.com/article/7e9f...
Loved using a maternity KIT day to attend the launch of this brilliant report - State-funded Tutoring for the Future—with baby Ciarán along for the ride! 👶🏻
www.publicfirst.co.uk/wp-content/u...
www.publicfirst.co.uk/wp-content/u...
April 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Loved using a maternity KIT day to attend the launch of this brilliant report - State-funded Tutoring for the Future—with baby Ciarán along for the ride! 👶🏻
www.publicfirst.co.uk/wp-content/u...
www.publicfirst.co.uk/wp-content/u...
My husband is going to laugh if he ever sees I posted this, but one unexpected thing since moving back to Reading - the buses are good! Our town ranks in the top ten for bus passenger satisfaction. 👇
Bus passenger satisfaction in England (outside London) at 83% in 2024.
All measures ⬆️:
Journey time (83% from 81%)
Bus driver (87% from 85%)
Punctuality at the bus stop (75% from 70%)
Value for money for fare payers (73% from 67%)
Bus stop waiting time (72% from 68%)
Bus stop (79% from 76%)
All measures ⬆️:
Journey time (83% from 81%)
Bus driver (87% from 85%)
Punctuality at the bus stop (75% from 70%)
Value for money for fare payers (73% from 67%)
Bus stop waiting time (72% from 68%)
Bus stop (79% from 76%)
England’s best bus services named, as national passenger satisfaction rises - Transport Focus
Bus passengers across England have said they are more satisfied with their journeys – with satisfaction up to 83 per cent in the second year of the Your Bus Journey survey, independent watchdog Transp...
www.transportfocus.org.uk
March 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
My husband is going to laugh if he ever sees I posted this, but one unexpected thing since moving back to Reading - the buses are good! Our town ranks in the top ten for bus passenger satisfaction. 👇
Bleak. And against a backdrop of a rise in the number of young people who are NEET.
Govt has just announced cuts to FE College funding for this year, leaving Colleges in the lurch - more Whitehall spending squeeze and at odds with “opportunity for all”
as this hits least advantaged hardest. 🤷♂️
my latest via @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/41lHnv8
as this hits least advantaged hardest. 🤷♂️
my latest via @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/41lHnv8
on.ft.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Bleak. And against a backdrop of a rise in the number of young people who are NEET.
📢 The Maths Horizons Project interim findings are in. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with brilliant maths specialists and educators as part of the Project’s Executive Group.👇
We are delighted to have published our Interim Report for the Maths Horizons Project today: www.mathshorizons.uk/interim-report
This report reflects on some of what we have learned so far through an extensive range of contributors. We would love to hear your thoughts on the findings!
This report reflects on some of what we have learned so far through an extensive range of contributors. We would love to hear your thoughts on the findings!
February 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
📢 The Maths Horizons Project interim findings are in. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with brilliant maths specialists and educators as part of the Project’s Executive Group.👇
📖 Cheer yourself up this #BlueMonday by reading @aliceeardley.bsky.social’s piece in @feweek.bsky.social which sets out @getfurther.bsky.social’s optimistic vision for post-16 English and maths education.
#loveourcolleges #gcseresits #furthereducation #curriculum #assessment #educationpolicy
#loveourcolleges #gcseresits #furthereducation #curriculum #assessment #educationpolicy
In this piece for @feweek.bsky.social, @aliceeardley.bsky.social explores the need for tailored, evidence-based approaches to help learners with lower prior attainment succeed and lays out our proposal for a “GCSE step” qualification. Read and share your thoughts 👇
feweek.co.uk/more-targete...
feweek.co.uk/more-targete...
The key to GCSE resit success is more targeted interventions
A one-year ‘GCSE step’ course would better support those GCSE resit students that have fallen furthest behind
feweek.co.uk
January 20, 2025 at 11:44 AM
📖 Cheer yourself up this #BlueMonday by reading @aliceeardley.bsky.social’s piece in @feweek.bsky.social which sets out @getfurther.bsky.social’s optimistic vision for post-16 English and maths education.
#loveourcolleges #gcseresits #furthereducation #curriculum #assessment #educationpolicy
#loveourcolleges #gcseresits #furthereducation #curriculum #assessment #educationpolicy
Briefly breaking mat leave to reshare the fantastic news from the @getfurther.bsky.social team that Professor Jason Arday has joined the charity as its new Patron.
We are excited to announce Professor Jason Arday as our new Patron! 🎉 After overcoming illiteracy in his late teens with support from his college, Jason became one of the youngest professors ever appointed at Oxbridge. His story demonstrates that it's never too late to thrive in education.
January 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Briefly breaking mat leave to reshare the fantastic news from the @getfurther.bsky.social team that Professor Jason Arday has joined the charity as its new Patron.
✨ Lovely to wrap up 2024 with hearing some amazing news! ✨
Huge congratulations to Fiona Morey, trustee at @getfurther.bsky.social & Exec Principal at South Bank Colleges, on being awarded an OBE! 🎉 Fiona has unwavering dedication to learners in FE. This recognition is so well deserved. 👏
Huge congratulations to Fiona Morey, trustee at @getfurther.bsky.social & Exec Principal at South Bank Colleges, on being awarded an OBE! 🎉 Fiona has unwavering dedication to learners in FE. This recognition is so well deserved. 👏
December 31, 2024 at 9:33 AM
✨ Lovely to wrap up 2024 with hearing some amazing news! ✨
Huge congratulations to Fiona Morey, trustee at @getfurther.bsky.social & Exec Principal at South Bank Colleges, on being awarded an OBE! 🎉 Fiona has unwavering dedication to learners in FE. This recognition is so well deserved. 👏
Huge congratulations to Fiona Morey, trustee at @getfurther.bsky.social & Exec Principal at South Bank Colleges, on being awarded an OBE! 🎉 Fiona has unwavering dedication to learners in FE. This recognition is so well deserved. 👏
Reposted by Sarah Waite
Last week, the OECD Adult Skills Survey reported major improvements in the literacy & numeracy of England's young adults. In @feweek.bsky.social, @sarahjwaite.bsky.social explores the policies leading to this, the vital role FE played & how we can keep driving up skills. Link in the thread below 👇
December 19, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Last week, the OECD Adult Skills Survey reported major improvements in the literacy & numeracy of England's young adults. In @feweek.bsky.social, @sarahjwaite.bsky.social explores the policies leading to this, the vital role FE played & how we can keep driving up skills. Link in the thread below 👇