The Education Select Committee has published its Further Education (FE) and Skills report, following an inquiry into how post-16 education can be better supported. After providing evidence during this inquiry, the St Martin’s Group is proud to be included in the final report, which comes at a critical moment, as responsibility for skills policy moves from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
In the report, the Committee highlights the essential role of FE and skills in meeting national priorities, from growth and opportunity to health and energy. Yet, it warns of persistent challenges: fragmented policymaking, underfunding and barriers to progression. With the skills portfolio shifting to the DWP, the need for coherent governance and clear accountability is more pressing than ever.
A central theme is the role of Skills England. The Committee recognises its potential to provide coherence across government, employers and providers, but raises concerns about its independence and influence. It therefore, recommends that its structure and leadership be reviewed to ensure it has the authority needed to drive change. For employers and providers represented by the St Martin’s Group, the effectiveness of Skills England will be crucial in shaping a responsive skills system.
The report also stresses the importance of devolution. It argues that decision-making should be devolved by default, including powers over 16–19 education as well as adult skills; and that local authorities should work closely with employer representative bodies in developing Local Skills Improvement Plans. At the same time, it warns of the risk of duplication and calls for better coordination between local and national priorities.
On qualifications and pathways, the Committee points to the disparity between technical and academic routes. Addressing this, it recommends that UCAS becomes a single portal for all post-16 options, including apprenticeships; calls for reforms to T Levels to improve retention, employer involvement and public awareness; and urges the Government to protect established alternatives such as BTECs and Applied Generals. The requirement for compulsory English and maths resits has also been criticised as counterproductive, with a more flexible approach recommended. The St Martin’s Group’s evidence echoed these concerns, with Jane Hadfield, Co-Chair of the St Martin’s Group and National Lead for Apprenticeships at NHS England emphasising the need for foundation apprenticeship programmes being “learner-centred” and asking for further clarity on what their progression pathways actually are.
Unsurprisingly, apprenticeships also feature prominently in the report. The Committee welcomes reforms such as the Growth and Skills Levy and foundation apprenticeships, but concludes that the system remains overly complex. It calls for simplified processes, extending opportunities into sectors, such as retail and care; and reinstating higher-level options in key industries. Here, we were proud to have our evidence cited directly, saying that many employers are “put off apprenticeships by the complexity and rigidity within the system”.
Our response also highlights the importance of supporting SMEs, ensuring shorter apprenticeships remain learner-centred, and enabling employers to create more opportunities rather than restricting them. Again, Jane is referenced in the report, sharing her “grave concerns” about the effect of defunding level 7 apprenticeships, saying that “if employers are going to have to pay for something at level 7, they will not choose an apprenticeship”.
Rounding out the report is student support and the sustainability of the sector. Here, the findings highlight gaps in mental health provision, the funding cliff edge faced by learners after the age of 16 and insufficient support for students with special educational needs or care experience. It calls for a new 16-19 student premium, improved transport support and tailored transition programmes for care leavers. More broadly and on funding, it notes the long-term decline in FE investment, capital shortfalls, teacher pay disparities and the need for VAT reform, urging the Government to put the sector on a more sustainable footing.
In conclusion, the Committee’s report offers a comprehensive assessment of FE and skills. Its recommendations align with many of the priorities set out by the St Martin’s Group in its evidence, particularly on apprenticeships, pathways and the importance of employer engagement. As responsibility for skills moves to the DWP, ensuring effective governance, balancing national and local delivery and securing sustainable funding will all be critical.
The St Martin’s Group will continue to engage with policymakers and sector partners to ensure the system supports learners, employers and the wider economy, and welcomes much-needed attention to these issues surrounding skills and FE reform.