At the end of 2025 I wrote three “Back to the Future” articles on our education and skills system, reflecting on where we are now and how we got here, from my own experience of studying then working in Post 16 education for the past 30 years.
In Back to the Future Part One, I reflect on the increase in young people who are NEET, the narrowing of the curriculum pre-16, the focus on high stakes end exam assessments, GCSE resits and the missed opportunity of Functional Skills (pre and post 16) to develop the underpinning English, maths and digital skills young people need for success. Skills Post 16? GCSE Resit Policy, qualification reform and why are young people becoming NEET?
In Back to the Future Part Two, with my heart on my sleeve, I take both a professional and sometimes personal perspective to reflect and consider the simple but fundamental question, So, what does “good” vocational education look like and how do we continue to improve what we do?
Finally, in my final Back to the Future Part Three, I take a local place-based (Greater Manchester) perspective on Collaboration, coherence and communication, making the system work, for all to consider how we have shaped and driven devolution, building on strong collaborative working over many years. In 2026 the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network celebrates 25 years of collaborative working. It is a privilege, as an independent consultant, to now formally be welcomed as a member of this respected network. A network that has informed and influenced policy, and implementation of that policy, to support a coherent (and increasing devolved) education and skills system across the city region.
On 17th February 2026, as we move from the Year of the Wood Snake (symbolic of introspection, strategic reassessment and gradual transformation) to the Year of the Fire Horse(symbolic of action, boldness and accelerated visible change), will we now begin to see the ambitions, set out in the Skills Post 16 white paper and the recommendations from the Curriculum and Assessment Review, move to implementation, with action on the ground that enables the change we need?
In our own consultancy work, in support of our clients own ambitions, we will be continuing to work with colleagues in and across providers and partnerships, with a clear focus on shaping excellence in vocational, technical and higher technical education. Building on our work with Institutes of Technology(IoTs) and working across providers we will continue to support the development of high quality vocational education, particularly higher technical education and short courses. The consideration of quality for short courses is much needed, particularly as we look to realise the potential of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to create flexible pathways for those looking to upskill and reskill and progress into the technical jobs of the future.
Future proofing? AI and digital tech – building our knowledge base & capacity to learn
In January 2026, working with colleagues in FE, we have continued to explore how we can maximise on the potential of digital technologies. This to re-imagine how we build capacity, with support from AI, to strengthen and broaden communities of practice in specific sector areas, at a time of rapid technological change.
“By keeping the tension between experience and competence alive, communities of practice create a dynamic form of continuity that preserves the knowledge while keeping it current” Etienne Wenger
On our current AI and digital tech project, we are now looking to move from ideation to on the ground activity, to harness the energy of the Fire Horse (and hopefully secure a bit of extra resource), to turn our ambition into real impactful activity.
Whilst technology will not be the full solution to some of the key challenges of capacity to deliver, we have learned much of the importance of digital and AI literacy, along with industry expertise and pedagogical insights, that teachers, and our students, need to make learning relevant in an increasingly digitalised and rapidly changing world.
As we move into the Year of the Fire Horse I am optimistic, that whatever challenges we face, with collaboration and a clear focus on being the best we can be, we will move from careful reflection into dynamic action. Action that maximises on our collective and constantly evolving expertise to improve what we do for our learners in our context and across and within our communities.
Please note, though the research into the symbolism of Chinese and East Asian astrology was assisted by AI(with sources and citations checked), both the illustration and the narrative of this blog were created by the author, Gill Scott. The sitter for the Fire Horse sketch is Horeb Trotting Jack, the Welsh Section D pony who has been part of my own learning journey in effective communication and collaboration over the past 10 years.