In the week when the weather left the UK feeling confused, and pubs and restaurants welcomed customers back indoors, further education had a major moment of its own.
The new Skills and Post-16 Education Bill was formally entered into Parliament, and got everyone talking on Twitter, while shadow education secretary Kate Green attended WorldSkills UK’s International Skills Summit at Dudley College of Technology.
FE Twitter was also abuzz about familiar faces appearing on our TV screens: former WorldSkills UK competitor Hugo Johnson won the BBC’s jewellery show All That Glitters, and it was announced that two chefs from College of West Anglia, Alex Harrison and Stacey Martin, will take part in Channel 4‘s Bake Off: The Professionals.
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Been back in for four minutes...#FE pic.twitter.com/GMwQ7fhgWF
- Kirsty Walker #FE (@Kirstsclass) May 20, 2021
I was very pleased to speak at the @worldskillsuk International Skills Summit today.
In case you missed it here’s what I had to say about the importance of skills training to young people’s futures and our future economy ? pic.twitter.com/gJ9QhKhRgq
- Kate Green ? (@KateGreenSU) May 19, 2021
We’re so proud of former Squad star and apprentice Hugo being crowned the winner of #AllThatGlitters on @BBCTwo for his world class jewellery skills! Huge congratulations to Hugo! ??? pic.twitter.com/ASRvySCKzP
- WorldSkills UK (@worldskillsuk) May 18, 2021
Some filming @hopwoodhall today: another chance to hear about the amazing work they are doing to become a trauma informed college pic.twitter.com/Z3Ky6iQlk5
- Richard Caulfield (@caulfieldr) May 18, 2021
Fantastic street food festival today to celebrate reopening outside dining at @Lborocollege @Joannemaher all socially distanced and supported by our student chefs ?? it’s great to be back @priceandfret @BCFChefs @Craft_Guild pic.twitter.com/cRszta4rH5
- Jo Maher (@Joannemaher) May 18, 2021
Ahead of our Skills Bill being introduced to parliament, I visited the Operator Skills Hub.
Employers like @BalfourBeatty and @FlanneryPlant are giving people the skills to start successful careers. Our bill will create even more opportunities for people across the country. pic.twitter.com/XM4Ahmdffa
- Gavin Williamson (@GavinWilliamson) May 17, 2021
Level 2 apprenticeship starts have fallen from 65% in 2013/14, to just 31% of all apprenticeship-starts in 2019/20. This is hugely concerning because we know that a disproportionate number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue Level 2s - they are a vital stepping stone. pic.twitter.com/DtjFU1us4U
- Robert Halfon MP -Working Hard for Harlow- (@halfon4harlowMP) May 18, 2021
Transport Secretary’s reform pitch is that railway system shouldn’t have to employ 400 people to workout who’s to blame if trains are late. I wonder how many people are employed in FE to check that colleges are complying with the hundreds of pages of densely written funding rules
- Julian Gravatt (@JulianGravatt) May 20, 2021
Students at @DerwenTelford held their first pop-up market stall yesterday. Their amazing marketing efforts paid off, with visitors flocking to buy home-made fare, gifts, teas and cake. Well done to all involved! @telfordlive @PODSTelford @TelfordWrekin pic.twitter.com/8A62a4oz8l
- Derwen College (@DerwenCollege) May 20, 202
Two Catering lecturers from @cwa_college are set to appear on the first episode of the new @BritishBakeOff series! ???? Alex Harrison and Stacey Martin have worked together at CWA for over a decade and hope to make their students proud. #LoveOurColleges #BritishBakeOff https://t.co/xOnZck2KHm
- Association of Colleges (AoC) (@AoC_info) May 20, 2021