Darren Hankey

🧵 New ONS data reveals another increase to NEET rates—especially for young women and those aged 21–24. I'm making my first foray on Bluesky to share my thoughts! The stats show 948,000 young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET). That’s 12.8% of all 16–24 year olds.

Other results are also available.

I know lots of results are being collected today, but it's great to see adult learners achieve GCSE English and/or maths. Nearly all of these learners studied whilst juggling work, family & other commitments, & many had deep hang-ups re starting last September.

Well played 👏👏👏

If any legal firm wants to set up a fundraiser to sue Robinson for libel on behalf of Ayeni I will happily contribute. (Assuming he wants to sue).

UK tax data reportedly suggests claims of non-dom exodus overblown HMRC figures appear to indicate departure of high net worth people is in line with OBR predictions, report says

Clear pattern emerging: impact of new taxes on private schools, non-doms and large farms is far smaller than typically suggested. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

He's been! He's been!

Thousands more construction workers needed to meet housing targets BBC London speaks to various construction industry workers to find out what challenges they face.

If you’ve been following @noblefrancis.bsky.social this won’t come as a surprise.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's also a national disgrace that many of these young people go to their local FE college and become brickies, chippies, sparkies, designers, engineers, platers, welders, hairdressers, carers etc and these achievements don't get the recognition they deserve.

if I ever go properly "screaming about nothing in particular in the street" mad it will be due to having spent too much time having read about the opinions of men who have absolutely never cared about women's rights for one moment in their lives but decided to pretend just for the sake of racism

The Great VAT Panic Or how not to run a campaign

New post just out:

"The Great VAT Panic"

The claims made by the right-wing press about VAT on private school fees were wildly wrong.

Why? What are the lessons about about (how not to) run a lobbying campaign? And what can government learn?

(£/free)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

ASCL FE Advisory Board member, Principal and CEO @darrenhankey.bsky.social writes in Leader on the challenges colleges face trying to deliver qualifications to young people under the current financial constraints of a severely neglected sector: (member log in required): ow.ly/oWCx50WlHhB!

Child living at Coventry care facility 'drugged and sexually assaulted' It was one of many concerning incidents revealed by Ofsted

There’s an emerging sense of scandal around the children’s homes company Dimensions Care, which is owned by financial investors. Overlooked by national media, thus far…

www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr...

In case you were wondering, that sound you can hear is the scraping of deckchairs as they are frantically rearranged at Ofsted towers.

Next Thursday sees the release of this year's level 3 results. Let's see how many folk, who should really know better, omit recognising the achievements of 000s of people who achieve vocational/technical qualifications 👀

Quote from focus group participant “Yeah, I get flexibility [with my hours]. But the thing is, I don’t really get like extra benefits. I don’t get no annual leave, I don’t, I don’t get sick pay, so if I’m unwell, I’ll have to just have unpaid leave. So I don’t really get the benefits that full-time workers do, so it’s not really the best for me at the moment.” (Self-employed participant caring for disabled parent and two children

“There is no, you know, there’s no sick pay … none of that kind of stuff. … The times I’ve had to take off, even if it’s one day, it does make a difference. … You do worry in the background, having to take time off because of that financial impact.” (Self-employed participant with mental health conditions

Many of our focus group participants stated difficulties accessing the flexibility they require at work, and instead turn to non-traditional forms of work, including zero-hours contracts and self-employment.

But this comes with drawbacks - particularly the lack of employment rights.

"The UK starts from a low baseline: we have some of the weakest worker protections in the OECD."

LET IT FLOW!

Farage spreading lies again as sewage problem escalates. Here's today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon...

www.shareyourstories.live/northern-agenda/

UK car production

UK vehicle manufactures have fallen to the lowest level since 1953 reports BBC and Guardian. Lots of stuff on Trump tariffs and EVs. Yet, looking at the data the dramatic rupture seems to be in 2016. A total mystery what that was....

I can understand the American President's anger at South Park. I was a novice teacher when this chap was introduced to our screens.

IYKYK

Learning the lessons: Understanding the history of adult learning and skills

Indeed. Something we reflected on in this recent report. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...

Yep. You have been constant re this and it's to be applauded. I just wish national and local policymakers would see the light.

For decades, skills policy has focused on supply-side issues with tweaks to qualifications, structures & targets dominating.

The demand for, utilisation of and investment in skills rarely get a mention 👇

Whatever the merits of the policy on information on work checks, this seems ill-judged and inappropriate messagimg & imagery from the UK government.

Not great and in addition to the 23k who lost jobs in FE between 2010-17.

I'm not convinced Allison has ever met the British Army. The officers are generally somewhere on the political spectrum between James Cleverly and Dan Jarvis. It would end up being the first ever centrist coup*.

Some interesting stuff.

A new IPR report by researchers from @uniofbath.bsky.social, @edgeuk.bsky.social and FFT Education Datalab, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, examines the Raising of the Participation Age, which aims to keep more young people in #education and training. buff.ly/ZlD5aER 🧵

The intent behind T Levels is laudable, but far too many places across England just do not have the economy to support the 45-day industry placements at scale.

This problem has not been addressed & there are no clear solutions on the horizon.

ASCL FE Advisory Board member, Principal and CEO @darrenhankey.bsky.social writes on the challenges colleges face trying to deliver qualifications to young people under the current financial constraints of a severely neglected sector: (member log in required): ow.ly/oWCx50WlHhB!

It remains, along with the welfare cap, the undisputed worst policy of my lifetime.

Piling on future costs and present misery for zero benefit beyond a few Sun and Mail page leads.