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Darren Hankey

@darrenhankey.bsky.social

Principal of the underfunded, overlooked, undervalued yet marvellous Hartlepool College of FE. Raised on a council estate & FSM throughout school.

217 Posts274 Follower197 Folgt
Elizabeth Gerard@elizabethgerard.bsky.social · last yr.

🧵 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.

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Darren Hankey@darrenhankey.bsky.social · last yr.

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 👏👏👏

Darren Hankey@darrenhankey.bsky.social · last yr.

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.

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Darren Hankey@darrenhankey.bsky.social · last yr.

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 👀

Resolution Foundation@resolutionfoundation.org · last yr.

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.

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
Anthony Painter@anthonypainter.bsky.social · last yr.

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....

UK car production
Darren Hankey@darrenhankey.bsky.social · last yr.

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 👇

Learning and Work Institute@learnworkuk.bsky.social · last yr.

"The UK is systemically underinvesting in learning and skills, holding back productivity and opportunity. That needs to change." ✍️ L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social responds to the latest skills survey data from the Department for Education.

Darren Hankey@darrenhankey.bsky.social · last yr.

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.

FE Week@feweek.bsky.social · last yr.

🪓 Tens of thousands of youngsters are at risk of falling through a 'qualifications gap' in key areas of the economy because of the government’s plan to scrap BTECs, campaigners estimate feweek.co.uk/btecs-axe-wi...

Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · last yr.

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.

Tom Pollard@pollardtom.bsky.social · last yr.

New government data on the impact of the two child limit: 469,780 households now affected, with 1,665,540 children in those households Almost 40,000 more children affected since last year It's a child poverty machine & it will cost us all more in the long term - get rid of it