This policy is part of the government’s effort to reform technical, skills-based education. The broad plan includes the introduction of new qualifications and the establishment of new institutes of technology, as well as a focus on improving funding, provision and facilities at existing further education colleges.

Through this policy, the government hopes to draw industry professionals into further education teaching to share their knowledge and experience.

In June 2018, the government launched the Taking Teaching Further programme to “attract experienced professionals to pass on their expertise to the next generation”. The programme was designed in partnership with the Association of Colleges and the Education and Training Foundation and is backed by £5 million of government funding. In December 2018, a second round of the programme was announced.

It’s too early to make any judgement about the success of the policy in terms of attracting industry professionals into teaching, but the pledge was to “create a new national programme” and we can certainly say that has been ‘done’.

Want the detail?

• Second round of £5 million Taking Teaching Further programme opens – Gov.uk
• Developing a modern industrial strategy – Gov.uk
• New T Levels mark a revolution in technical education – Gov.uk
• Prime Minister launches major review of post-18 education – Gov.uk
• £5million to attract over 100 industry experts into teaching – Gov.uk
• Anne Milton: ‘Colleges are fundamental to our thinking’ – TES News