Andrew Otty
@education720.bsky.social
Former teacher and DfE policy lead. Now consultant, writer, and advocate for social justice in education.
"Between 2012 and 2023, young adults in England went from being one of the worst-performing groups in the OECD for literacy and numeracy to one of the best, making improvements on a scale not seen across other countries or other age groups in England."
feweek.co.uk/bottom-10-pe...
feweek.co.uk/bottom-10-pe...
Bottom 10% of GCSE retakers missing out on subject success
A decade of GCSE resits and curriculum reforms saw England’s young adults surging up global skills rankings
feweek.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"Between 2012 and 2023, young adults in England went from being one of the worst-performing groups in the OECD for literacy and numeracy to one of the best, making improvements on a scale not seen across other countries or other age groups in England."
feweek.co.uk/bottom-10-pe...
feweek.co.uk/bottom-10-pe...
"Your AI-enthusiast colleagues are busy convincing everyone that you don’t need non-contact time because AI can do your planning, marking, and feedback."
In FE Week, I'm warning that AI will not reduce teacher workload. It will devalue teacher time.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-hallu...
In FE Week, I'm warning that AI will not reduce teacher workload. It will devalue teacher time.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-hallu...
The AI hallucination: tech will add problems, not solve them
Why the government’s latest AI initiatives are little more than shiny distractions
feweek.co.uk
June 21, 2025 at 6:21 AM
"Your AI-enthusiast colleagues are busy convincing everyone that you don’t need non-contact time because AI can do your planning, marking, and feedback."
In FE Week, I'm warning that AI will not reduce teacher workload. It will devalue teacher time.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-hallu...
In FE Week, I'm warning that AI will not reduce teacher workload. It will devalue teacher time.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-hallu...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
⬇️ 'We need to curtail well-resourced but inexpert vested interests being given excessive air time'
Andrew Otty on the influence of 'inexpert vested interests' in FE curriculums
Andrew Otty on the influence of 'inexpert vested interests' in FE curriculums
feweek.co.uk
May 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
⬇️ 'We need to curtail well-resourced but inexpert vested interests being given excessive air time'
Andrew Otty on the influence of 'inexpert vested interests' in FE curriculums
Andrew Otty on the influence of 'inexpert vested interests' in FE curriculums
Reposted by Andrew Otty
⬇️ Andrew Otty says the best lessons he's ever seen were
"almost always built around source material I would never imagine showing up in the exam. 🥋 After all, Daniel LaRusso didn’t have to wax a car in the All-Valley Karate Tournament."
"almost always built around source material I would never imagine showing up in the exam. 🥋 After all, Daniel LaRusso didn’t have to wax a car in the All-Valley Karate Tournament."
feweek.co.uk
May 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
⬇️ Andrew Otty says the best lessons he's ever seen were
"almost always built around source material I would never imagine showing up in the exam. 🥋 After all, Daniel LaRusso didn’t have to wax a car in the All-Valley Karate Tournament."
"almost always built around source material I would never imagine showing up in the exam. 🥋 After all, Daniel LaRusso didn’t have to wax a car in the All-Valley Karate Tournament."
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm warning that the excessive air time devoted to qualification and assessment tinkering pulls focus away from the far more important matter of actually teaching.
feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-...
feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-...
GCSE resits need ‘wax on, wax off’, not more exam tinkering
Forcing GCSE resit students into high-stakes exams without proper foundation sets them up to lose
feweek.co.uk
May 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm warning that the excessive air time devoted to qualification and assessment tinkering pulls focus away from the far more important matter of actually teaching.
feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-...
feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-...
I'm proud to be a founding member of the English and Maths Coalition (EMC).
We believe that all learners can succeed in, and enjoy, English and maths.
Join us (it's free) and help resist the watering down of post-16 support.
www.englishandmaths.org
We believe that all learners can succeed in, and enjoy, English and maths.
Join us (it's free) and help resist the watering down of post-16 support.
www.englishandmaths.org
May 16, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I'm proud to be a founding member of the English and Maths Coalition (EMC).
We believe that all learners can succeed in, and enjoy, English and maths.
Join us (it's free) and help resist the watering down of post-16 support.
www.englishandmaths.org
We believe that all learners can succeed in, and enjoy, English and maths.
Join us (it's free) and help resist the watering down of post-16 support.
www.englishandmaths.org
Reposted by Andrew Otty
📝 A campaign group demanding a U-turn on the scrapping of enforced English and maths resits for adult apprentices has been launched feweek.co.uk/lw-and-exper...
English and maths coalition launched to fight functional skills reform
Group of experts accuses the government of 'watering down' standards
feweek.co.uk
May 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
📝 A campaign group demanding a U-turn on the scrapping of enforced English and maths resits for adult apprentices has been launched feweek.co.uk/lw-and-exper...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
🤖 'Neither they, nor the technology know what they don't know'
💻 The widespread adoption of AI in FE colleges will widen the disadvantage gap, warns
Andrew Otty
💻 The widespread adoption of AI in FE colleges will widen the disadvantage gap, warns
Andrew Otty
feweek.co.uk
May 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM
🤖 'Neither they, nor the technology know what they don't know'
💻 The widespread adoption of AI in FE colleges will widen the disadvantage gap, warns
Andrew Otty
💻 The widespread adoption of AI in FE colleges will widen the disadvantage gap, warns
Andrew Otty
"Those clueless about pedagogy are advocating we hand it over to AI, because neither they nor the technology know what they don’t know."
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm talking about how a thoughtless rush to AI in education will widen the disadvantage gap.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-evang...
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm talking about how a thoughtless rush to AI in education will widen the disadvantage gap.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-evang...
AI evangelism is class war, this is the last chance to resist
Edtech bros push AI as the future of education. But when the hype fades, disadvantaged students pay the price
feweek.co.uk
May 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"Those clueless about pedagogy are advocating we hand it over to AI, because neither they nor the technology know what they don’t know."
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm talking about how a thoughtless rush to AI in education will widen the disadvantage gap.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-evang...
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm talking about how a thoughtless rush to AI in education will widen the disadvantage gap.
feweek.co.uk/the-ai-evang...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
⬇️ The decision to axe functional skills requirement for adults apprentices exposes yet another failure in DfE workforce planning, says Andrew Otty
feweek.co.uk
March 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
⬇️ The decision to axe functional skills requirement for adults apprentices exposes yet another failure in DfE workforce planning, says Andrew Otty
Reposted by Andrew Otty
⬇️ Ministers used the fanfare of National Apprenticeship Week to axe functional skills requirement for adults—but its consequences are anything but celebratory, says Andrew Otty
feweek.co.uk
March 8, 2025 at 10:05 AM
⬇️ Ministers used the fanfare of National Apprenticeship Week to axe functional skills requirement for adults—but its consequences are anything but celebratory, says Andrew Otty
"Alternative qualifications? Four maths papers? Prescribed texts in English? The curriculum and assessment review could change the course of the GCSE resit policy."
See my round-up of Curriculum Review proposals in @feweek.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk/chaos-and-co...
See my round-up of Curriculum Review proposals in @feweek.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk/chaos-and-co...
Chaos and contradictions: Francis review response round-up
Responses to the curriculum and assessment review show some glaring contradictions
feweek.co.uk
February 9, 2025 at 8:04 AM
"Alternative qualifications? Four maths papers? Prescribed texts in English? The curriculum and assessment review could change the course of the GCSE resit policy."
See my round-up of Curriculum Review proposals in @feweek.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk/chaos-and-co...
See my round-up of Curriculum Review proposals in @feweek.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk/chaos-and-co...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
DfE to slash £30m from adult education
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
DfE to slash £30m from adult education
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
February 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
DfE to slash £30m from adult education
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
DfE to slash £30m from adult education
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
"It is a simulation of governance that has no concern for young people."
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm reflecting on the dangers of leaving education policy in the hands of those with no relevant experience.
feweek.co.uk/no-teaching-...
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm reflecting on the dangers of leaving education policy in the hands of those with no relevant experience.
feweek.co.uk/no-teaching-...
No teaching experience? You’ll fit right in at the DfE
The dangers posed by generalist civil servants at DfE
feweek.co.uk
January 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
"It is a simulation of governance that has no concern for young people."
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm reflecting on the dangers of leaving education policy in the hands of those with no relevant experience.
feweek.co.uk/no-teaching-...
In @feweek.bsky.social I'm reflecting on the dangers of leaving education policy in the hands of those with no relevant experience.
feweek.co.uk/no-teaching-...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
As NASUWT become the latest union to ballot over college teacher pay, a timely Uncivil Servant piece from @education720.bsky.social tells us:
- college 16-19s get fewer teaching hours
- arguments are made badly
- despite everything, there are still inefficiencies
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
- college 16-19s get fewer teaching hours
- arguments are made badly
- despite everything, there are still inefficiencies
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
January 14, 2025 at 9:52 AM
As NASUWT become the latest union to ballot over college teacher pay, a timely Uncivil Servant piece from @education720.bsky.social tells us:
- college 16-19s get fewer teaching hours
- arguments are made badly
- despite everything, there are still inefficiencies
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
- college 16-19s get fewer teaching hours
- arguments are made badly
- despite everything, there are still inefficiencies
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
My first FE Week column of 2025, on the disadvantaged-funding gap that is the real barrier to better FE pay.
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
Five steps to fix FE pay
The FE sector’s influence on the government is clearly lacking but there are some easy-win solutions
feweek.co.uk
January 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
My first FE Week column of 2025, on the disadvantaged-funding gap that is the real barrier to better FE pay.
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
feweek.co.uk/five-steps-t...
🎄 For a Hogwarts-themed Christmas take on FE's incredible character arc as the unlikely hero of English and maths, join me in FE Week 🎅
feweek.co.uk/harry-potter...
feweek.co.uk/harry-potter...
Harry Potter and the curse of education policymakers
Must we keep repeating the same error Rowling made in the final book of her sorcerers' saga?
feweek.co.uk
December 7, 2024 at 7:53 AM
🎄 For a Hogwarts-themed Christmas take on FE's incredible character arc as the unlikely hero of English and maths, join me in FE Week 🎅
feweek.co.uk/harry-potter...
feweek.co.uk/harry-potter...
Reposted by Andrew Otty
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
SEND transport in crisis
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
SEND transport in crisis
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
December 5, 2024 at 9:06 PM
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
SEND transport in crisis
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
SEND transport in crisis
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
"The kind of student who needs to just disappear."
The awful mindset behind the funding 'tolerance' for GCSE resits, which allows the students who need most support in English and maths to be 'disappeared', perfectly illustrated in this scene from Freaks and Geeks.
The awful mindset behind the funding 'tolerance' for GCSE resits, which allows the students who need most support in English and maths to be 'disappeared', perfectly illustrated in this scene from Freaks and Geeks.
November 28, 2024 at 7:52 AM
"The kind of student who needs to just disappear."
The awful mindset behind the funding 'tolerance' for GCSE resits, which allows the students who need most support in English and maths to be 'disappeared', perfectly illustrated in this scene from Freaks and Geeks.
The awful mindset behind the funding 'tolerance' for GCSE resits, which allows the students who need most support in English and maths to be 'disappeared', perfectly illustrated in this scene from Freaks and Geeks.
Love this positive resits piece by Philip Trivett. It's so important we hear these experiences from frontline practitioners, rather than the absurdly negative rhetoric of the non-teacher commentators who've never actually even seen a resit class in real life.
feweek.co.uk/reconnecting...
feweek.co.uk/reconnecting...
The Staffroom: How we're re-engaging learners through poetry
A national poetry competition is bringing new life to English as a language art - and learners love it
feweek.co.uk
November 25, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Love this positive resits piece by Philip Trivett. It's so important we hear these experiences from frontline practitioners, rather than the absurdly negative rhetoric of the non-teacher commentators who've never actually even seen a resit class in real life.
feweek.co.uk/reconnecting...
feweek.co.uk/reconnecting...
"When I traded the 20,000 steps per day of teaching for the vegetative existence of a civil servant, I invested in Just Dance.
Even though I was very very bad at it, it was still fun. I kept at it.
GCSE resits can learn a lot from Just Dance."
feweek.co.uk/what-would-b...
Even though I was very very bad at it, it was still fun. I kept at it.
GCSE resits can learn a lot from Just Dance."
feweek.co.uk/what-would-b...
What Just Dance taught me about our assessment system
Everyone wrote off my physical skills. Let's not do the same to our young academics
feweek.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 6:54 AM
"When I traded the 20,000 steps per day of teaching for the vegetative existence of a civil servant, I invested in Just Dance.
Even though I was very very bad at it, it was still fun. I kept at it.
GCSE resits can learn a lot from Just Dance."
feweek.co.uk/what-would-b...
Even though I was very very bad at it, it was still fun. I kept at it.
GCSE resits can learn a lot from Just Dance."
feweek.co.uk/what-would-b...
Sounds like someone at ASCL needs to resit their maths.
This is silly lobbying soundbites becoming so entrenched that the facts are lost. It is not a 'forgotten third' if over 80% are achieving in each subject by 19.
#loveourcolleges
This is silly lobbying soundbites becoming so entrenched that the facts are lost. It is not a 'forgotten third' if over 80% are achieving in each subject by 19.
#loveourcolleges
ASCL’s CAR response references the “forgotten third”. But today, 84% of 19-year-olds hold a standard pass at GCSE and 81% for maths. If we include 16-19 education, the forgotten third is not a third… Important that the Association of School AND College Leaders does not forget the work of colleges.
“We have to move away from the notion that #GCSEs are a rite of passage to be endured,” says ASCL Curriculum and Assessment Specialist @tommiddlehurst.bsky.social following ASCL's submission to the Curriculum and Assessment Review: ow.ly/e68Z50UcyrG
#education #assessment #curriculum #exams
#education #assessment #curriculum #exams
November 22, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Sounds like someone at ASCL needs to resit their maths.
This is silly lobbying soundbites becoming so entrenched that the facts are lost. It is not a 'forgotten third' if over 80% are achieving in each subject by 19.
#loveourcolleges
This is silly lobbying soundbites becoming so entrenched that the facts are lost. It is not a 'forgotten third' if over 80% are achieving in each subject by 19.
#loveourcolleges
Reposted by Andrew Otty
4. New Government needs a renewed focus on English, maths & ESOL for all. Don't drop requirements in e.g. apprenticeships because they're difficult - make them work wherever possible. Multiply may end, but essential skills needs to be a priority. Have a high ambition for all. #EMESEOLConf24
November 19, 2024 at 10:47 AM
4. New Government needs a renewed focus on English, maths & ESOL for all. Don't drop requirements in e.g. apprenticeships because they're difficult - make them work wherever possible. Multiply may end, but essential skills needs to be a priority. Have a high ambition for all. #EMESEOLConf24
"I became an English teacher because I believe stories have the power to change lives. I have seen them do so seismically, redrawing young people’s trajectories. And I have seen them do so subtly, providing moments of joy, hope, and curiosity."
feweek.co.uk/why-i-wont-g...
feweek.co.uk/why-i-wont-g...
For students' sake, we can't give up on English resits
Those who worry about the resit policy's mental health impact have got it the wrong way round
feweek.co.uk
November 8, 2024 at 6:22 AM
"I became an English teacher because I believe stories have the power to change lives. I have seen them do so seismically, redrawing young people’s trajectories. And I have seen them do so subtly, providing moments of joy, hope, and curiosity."
feweek.co.uk/why-i-wont-g...
feweek.co.uk/why-i-wont-g...
I'm going 'full nerd' in FE News, talking about my Amstrad, Big Trak, and the 80s.
I've been reliving the programming fun of my youth while working with CodiPlay.com to bring a coding-education suite of app, teaching platform, and robotics kits, to classrooms.
www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/is...
I've been reliving the programming fun of my youth while working with CodiPlay.com to bring a coding-education suite of app, teaching platform, and robotics kits, to classrooms.
www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/is...
Is Coding the Most Important Modern Language?
In this article, Andrew argues against relying on AI as a quick fix in education, instead advocating for teaching coding alongside literacy. He draws from…
www.fenews.co.uk
October 31, 2024 at 7:40 AM
I'm going 'full nerd' in FE News, talking about my Amstrad, Big Trak, and the 80s.
I've been reliving the programming fun of my youth while working with CodiPlay.com to bring a coding-education suite of app, teaching platform, and robotics kits, to classrooms.
www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/is...
I've been reliving the programming fun of my youth while working with CodiPlay.com to bring a coding-education suite of app, teaching platform, and robotics kits, to classrooms.
www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/is...