Julian Gravatt
@juliangravatt.bsky.social
Work: Deputy chief exec, Association of Colleges. Interests: education systems, public money, local politics and why people do the things they do
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
This @britishacademy.bsky.social report is solid, and makes sensible recommendations. The report stresses the "middle" (HNC/HND in old money) as a gap, as well as the need to boost provision for adults. (Skills "capital" is a stock as well as a flow.)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
A joined-up approach to UK skills policy
The UK requires a joined-up approach to skills policy that considers the needs of learners, workers and businesses, is adaptable to changes in technology and the economy, and is flexible to local need...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
June 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
This @britishacademy.bsky.social report is solid, and makes sensible recommendations. The report stresses the "middle" (HNC/HND in old money) as a gap, as well as the need to boost provision for adults. (Skills "capital" is a stock as well as a flow.)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Care training in England has been at the whim of a (badly run) market, and this is the result - training providers abandoning provision
Cutting off access to foreign workers without fixing the care training sector is mad
feweek.co.uk/who-cares-fu...
Cutting off access to foreign workers without fixing the care training sector is mad
feweek.co.uk/who-cares-fu...
Who cares? Funding boost won’t spark renaissance in care apprenticeships
Last year’s £1,000 uplift to adult care apprenticeship funding is not enough to entice training providers back to the market, as the number of new apprentices plummets, an FE Week investigation has fo...
feweek.co.uk
May 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Care training in England has been at the whim of a (badly run) market, and this is the result - training providers abandoning provision
Cutting off access to foreign workers without fixing the care training sector is mad
feweek.co.uk/who-cares-fu...
Cutting off access to foreign workers without fixing the care training sector is mad
feweek.co.uk/who-cares-fu...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
The reason the nation has a 'skills problem' is a complete mystery.
✂️ Adult education funding will see a six per cent 'affordability' cut next year, the Department for Education has told providers
DfE announce 6% cut to national adult skills budgets
Adult education funding will see a six per cent 'affordability' cut next year, the Department for Education has told providers.
feweek.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The reason the nation has a 'skills problem' is a complete mystery.
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
A lot to digest on @feweek.bsky.social today:
✂️ DfE will cut national adult skills allocations by 6% next year in the latest blow to budgets: feweek.co.uk/dfe-announce...
😓A 'health top up' will be removed for out-of-work young people in a bid to reduce NEETs
feweek.co.uk/benefits-cra...
✂️ DfE will cut national adult skills allocations by 6% next year in the latest blow to budgets: feweek.co.uk/dfe-announce...
😓A 'health top up' will be removed for out-of-work young people in a bid to reduce NEETs
feweek.co.uk/benefits-cra...
DfE announce 6% cut to national adult skills budgets
Adult education funding will see a six per cent 'affordability' cut next year, the Department for Education has told providers.
feweek.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A lot to digest on @feweek.bsky.social today:
✂️ DfE will cut national adult skills allocations by 6% next year in the latest blow to budgets: feweek.co.uk/dfe-announce...
😓A 'health top up' will be removed for out-of-work young people in a bid to reduce NEETs
feweek.co.uk/benefits-cra...
✂️ DfE will cut national adult skills allocations by 6% next year in the latest blow to budgets: feweek.co.uk/dfe-announce...
😓A 'health top up' will be removed for out-of-work young people in a bid to reduce NEETs
feweek.co.uk/benefits-cra...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Ex-education and employment secretary David Blunkett launched the education maintenance allowance (EMA) more than 20 years ago: now he's defending it against @theifs.bsky.social criticism
Research on EMA support has defied common sense
Blunkett argues that his Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) helped disadvantaged students stay in education
feweek.co.uk
February 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Ex-education and employment secretary David Blunkett launched the education maintenance allowance (EMA) more than 20 years ago: now he's defending it against @theifs.bsky.social criticism
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Can you imagine our party leaders doing a joint inquest - an hour after the exit poll drops - in roundtable format!
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
February 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Can you imagine our party leaders doing a joint inquest - an hour after the exit poll drops - in roundtable format!
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
New DfE report showing the net present value of different qualifications. Note the largest benefit cost ratios are for learning at & below level 2. Definitely wouldn't want to be cutting further education & adult skills based on this... assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67adc0...
February 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
New DfE report showing the net present value of different qualifications. Note the largest benefit cost ratios are for learning at & below level 2. Definitely wouldn't want to be cutting further education & adult skills based on this... assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67adc0...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
It's not finished. This is just the outline. But I wrote about why North England is poor. Which it really really is. tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...
Why North England is poor.
And why Thatcher is partly to blame, but not in the way most people argue.
tomforth.co.uk
January 23, 2025 at 11:19 PM
It's not finished. This is just the outline. But I wrote about why North England is poor. Which it really really is. tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
'The government should spend some of its £2.1 billion revenue from the immigration skills charge to boost declining levels of ESOL funding over the last seven years.' @feweek.bsky.social write-up of joint @aoc-info.bsky.social- Bell Foundation report out yesterday. feweek.co.uk/aoc-immigrat...
ESOL: Immigration charge on businesses should fund courses
The government should spend some of its £2.1 billion revenue from the immigration skills charge to boost declining levels of ESOL funding over the last 7years
feweek.co.uk
January 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
'The government should spend some of its £2.1 billion revenue from the immigration skills charge to boost declining levels of ESOL funding over the last seven years.' @feweek.bsky.social write-up of joint @aoc-info.bsky.social- Bell Foundation report out yesterday. feweek.co.uk/aoc-immigrat...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Next week is important: it's the deadline to join the Devolution Priority Programme.
Councillors in Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Surrey, Norfolk, Cumbria and Suffolk will be considering whether to do so by 10 January, as will East Sussex and West Sussex.
Councillors in Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Surrey, Norfolk, Cumbria and Suffolk will be considering whether to do so by 10 January, as will East Sussex and West Sussex.
January 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Next week is important: it's the deadline to join the Devolution Priority Programme.
Councillors in Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Surrey, Norfolk, Cumbria and Suffolk will be considering whether to do so by 10 January, as will East Sussex and West Sussex.
Councillors in Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Surrey, Norfolk, Cumbria and Suffolk will be considering whether to do so by 10 January, as will East Sussex and West Sussex.
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Why does comprehensive social care reform never happen in the UK, in contrast to other complex areas of public policy? It is largely a political-economic question, in my view. This from 2017 still holds largely true: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2017...
Is reform of social care doomed?
For people who have worked in UK public policy in recent decades, whether as civil servants, politicians or advisers, there is something wearily familiar, and depressing, about the current debate o…
blogs.bath.ac.uk
January 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Why does comprehensive social care reform never happen in the UK, in contrast to other complex areas of public policy? It is largely a political-economic question, in my view. This from 2017 still holds largely true: blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2017...
1/4. Aim of English devolution white paper is universal coverage of strategic authorities. The carrot is enhanced powers for mayoral authorities, 6 of which will get integrated settlements. The stick is legislation that will allow Ministers to create authorities where leaders can’t agree
December 16, 2024 at 8:37 PM
1/4. Aim of English devolution white paper is universal coverage of strategic authorities. The carrot is enhanced powers for mayoral authorities, 6 of which will get integrated settlements. The stick is legislation that will allow Ministers to create authorities where leaders can’t agree
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Here's how the Government envisions working with strategic and local authorities:
December 16, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Here's how the Government envisions working with strategic and local authorities:
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
This problem was foreseeable months ago. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The problem with Labour's policy - on building & repairing public services - is not "where will the money come from?" (a stupid qn) but "where will the workers come from?" stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_an...
UK 'doesn't have enough builders' for Labour's 1.5m homes
Builders and developers say reforms are needed to recruit more tradespeople to build the homes being promised.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 14, 2024 at 10:52 AM
This problem was foreseeable months ago. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The problem with Labour's policy - on building & repairing public services - is not "where will the money come from?" (a stupid qn) but "where will the workers come from?" stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_an...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Excellent read by @NeilDotObrien on Higher Education challenges.
www.neilobrien.co.uk/p/higher-edu...
www.neilobrien.co.uk/p/higher-edu...
Higher Education, higher costs?
Young graduates are living in a very high tax country. We should be wary of adding to their burden
www.neilobrien.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Excellent read by @NeilDotObrien on Higher Education challenges.
www.neilobrien.co.uk/p/higher-edu...
www.neilobrien.co.uk/p/higher-edu...
An interesting read on university and private HE finances, looking at some large subcontracting volumes and profits
In some area, FE subcontracting rules are too tight but OfS could learn a bit from FE
And a few in-person visits to the very many SLC-funded locations in London might be revealing
In some area, FE subcontracting rules are too tight but OfS could learn a bit from FE
And a few in-person visits to the very many SLC-funded locations in London might be revealing
Very helpfully HESA have released financial data for providers who have an ‘early’ year end. You can spot more private provider with surpluses over 20%. There may be a correlation with how little they spend on staffing. Have added to this blog:
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/f...
Financial Statements Season – Franchise Special
It’s financial statements season. As everyone focuses on deficits and VC pay, I argue that more should be done to explain how the finances of franchises are working in annual reports.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
December 12, 2024 at 9:33 PM
An interesting read on university and private HE finances, looking at some large subcontracting volumes and profits
In some area, FE subcontracting rules are too tight but OfS could learn a bit from FE
And a few in-person visits to the very many SLC-funded locations in London might be revealing
In some area, FE subcontracting rules are too tight but OfS could learn a bit from FE
And a few in-person visits to the very many SLC-funded locations in London might be revealing
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
Fascinating to delve into the new PIAAC (adult skills) results from the OECD. Why am I not surprised that Finland tops the league table on literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem solving? England does pretty well; better on literacy than numeracy. Report: https://bit.ly/3BxlXSL #dataisbeautiful
December 11, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Fascinating to delve into the new PIAAC (adult skills) results from the OECD. Why am I not surprised that Finland tops the league table on literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem solving? England does pretty well; better on literacy than numeracy. Report: https://bit.ly/3BxlXSL #dataisbeautiful
1/8. OECD’s survey of adult skills is a once-in-a-decade test of what people know across 31 countries, including England (but not rest of UK). There’s a lot going on but I’d say this is a big story
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Do Adults Have the Skills They Need to Thrive in a Changing World?
The 2023 Survey of Adult Skills, a product of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), provides a comprehensive overview of adults' literacy, numeracy, and ad...
www.oecd.org
December 11, 2024 at 7:32 PM
1/8. OECD’s survey of adult skills is a once-in-a-decade test of what people know across 31 countries, including England (but not rest of UK). There’s a lot going on but I’d say this is a big story
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.
Good piece by @pmdfoster.bsky.social . Skills England seems to be the Govt's answer to lots of things. But to make a real difference it'll need, as @andywestwood.bsky.social says, brains and brawn. Not clear where either's coming from yet, but still early days. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
November 29, 2024 at 8:00 PM
You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.
1. Today’s UK immigration statistics remind me of the 3 years I attended a Home Office employers group (2017-2020). The Immigration white paper published on Dec 2018 set out firm plan for a single set of rules covering EU and non EU migration, ie higher barriers for former, lower ones for the latter
November 28, 2024 at 10:31 PM
1. Today’s UK immigration statistics remind me of the 3 years I attended a Home Office employers group (2017-2020). The Immigration white paper published on Dec 2018 set out firm plan for a single set of rules covering EU and non EU migration, ie higher barriers for former, lower ones for the latter
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
I'll be on BBC Radio 5Live at 5.35am today talking about the government's plans on increasing the employment rate to 80%, youth guarantee, changes to JobCentres and more
Tuesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Labour makes pledge to ensure ‘no young person is left behind’ www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
November 26, 2024 at 5:15 AM
I'll be on BBC Radio 5Live at 5.35am today talking about the government's plans on increasing the employment rate to 80%, youth guarantee, changes to JobCentres and more
Reposted by Julian Gravatt
200k more 16-24 year olds are not in work or full-time education compared to pre-pandemic. Driven by falling employment rates for 18-24 year olds. Govt plan likely to be a Youth Guarantee (something we argued for) led by Mayor's in England (Scotland & Wales already have similar). Needs to work...
🔍 L&W’s @stephenevans.bsky.social responds to the latest #labourmarket stats from ONS, focusing on the “troubling” rise of 16-24-year-olds who are not in work or full-time education. ⤵️
Subscribe to receive our full labour market briefing later today: learningandwork.org.uk/news-and-pol... 🔗
Subscribe to receive our full labour market briefing later today: learningandwork.org.uk/news-and-pol... 🔗
Our response to the labour market stats for November 2024
Learning and Work Institute's response to the labour market stats for November 2024, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
learningandwork.org.uk
November 12, 2024 at 11:22 AM
200k more 16-24 year olds are not in work or full-time education compared to pre-pandemic. Driven by falling employment rates for 18-24 year olds. Govt plan likely to be a Youth Guarantee (something we argued for) led by Mayor's in England (Scotland & Wales already have similar). Needs to work...
Skills minister, Jacqui Smith, at #AoC2024 conference.
Announced a crown guarantee for college LGPS debts which should remove the risk premium many funds charge and thus reduce costs via 2025 valuations from April 2026 onwards
Announced a crown guarantee for college LGPS debts which should remove the risk premium many funds charge and thus reduce costs via 2025 valuations from April 2026 onwards
November 12, 2024 at 10:07 AM
Skills minister, Jacqui Smith, at #AoC2024 conference.
Announced a crown guarantee for college LGPS debts which should remove the risk premium many funds charge and thus reduce costs via 2025 valuations from April 2026 onwards
Announced a crown guarantee for college LGPS debts which should remove the risk premium many funds charge and thus reduce costs via 2025 valuations from April 2026 onwards
Budget day, for some of us, are like Christmas day (thanks @andywestwood.bsky.social).
I'm still checking nothing's missed under the discarded wrapping paper while checking I haven't missed anything from the likes of IFS, IFG, FT, RF etc
Here's a college-focused list
www.aoc.co.uk/funding-fina...
I'm still checking nothing's missed under the discarded wrapping paper while checking I haven't missed anything from the likes of IFS, IFG, FT, RF etc
Here's a college-focused list
www.aoc.co.uk/funding-fina...
Public Spending
Information from AoC on HM Treasury budgets, including on-the-day analysis of key issues for colleges and the budget proposals we made to govenment
www.aoc.co.uk
November 1, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Budget day, for some of us, are like Christmas day (thanks @andywestwood.bsky.social).
I'm still checking nothing's missed under the discarded wrapping paper while checking I haven't missed anything from the likes of IFS, IFG, FT, RF etc
Here's a college-focused list
www.aoc.co.uk/funding-fina...
I'm still checking nothing's missed under the discarded wrapping paper while checking I haven't missed anything from the likes of IFS, IFG, FT, RF etc
Here's a college-focused list
www.aoc.co.uk/funding-fina...