The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities—and if you’ve started a new teaching role, it's the perfect time to rethink your approach to lesson planning. Effective lesson plans are key to creating engaging, organised, and meaningful learning experiences for your students. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out in your new position, these five tips can help you craft lesson plans that inspire, motivate, and deliver results.

As we gear up for 2025, it’s a great time to look back at the education trends that defined 2024. This year has been a pivotal one for schools, educators, and students alike, with new technologies, an increased focus on mental health, and a stronger emphasis on workforce readiness. We’ve been keeping an eye on how these trends are impacting the classroom and shaping the future of education. Here’s a review of the key trends that stood out in 2024.

GOV.UK has launched a Targeted Retention Incentive Payment scheme for teachers in specific subject areas, offering financial support to help retain skilled professionals in these key sectors.

With the UK striving to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, encouraging green skills is essential for the growth of industries like renewable energy and sustainability. Apprenticeships offer a practical path for training the workforce needed for this green transition. Further Education (FE) institutions are crucial in nurturing these skills, ensuring that students are equipped to tackle climate change and sustainability challenges effectively.

In recent years, ransomware attacks have emerged as a formidable threat to educational institutions across the United Kingdom. Just as students begin a new academic year, colleges are finding themselves under siege from cybercriminals - it is imperative to recognise the importance of robust cybersecurity now more than ever.

In the realm of apprenticeships, End-Point Assessments (EPAs) have emerged as a pivotal component. For educators and assessors alike, grasping the intricacies of these assessments is essential to ensure apprentices are adequately prepared for their final evaluation. This article will guide you through the essentials of EPA, providing you with the insights needed to support your apprentices effectively.

In a landmark decision, Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently announced that the UK government has accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB) recommendation to grant a 5.5% pay rise for teachers. This decision, effective from September 1, is set to inject £1.2 billion in additional funding to schools, benefiting thousands of teachers across the country. For the average teacher, this pay increase translates to over £2,500 more in their annual salary—a significant boost in an era of rising living costs.

However, The Department for Education has confirmed that this much-needed pay rise will not be extended to college educators. Many people feel that this is a large oversight and has raised concerns around inequity in the education sector. The government's decision comes as part of a wider package of cost-cutting measures aimed at saving £3 billion from government budgets.

The start of a new academic year is always a busy time for colleges and training centres across the UK. Amidst the hustle and bustle, safeguarding students remain a top priority. Ensuring a safe and secure environment not only fosters student well-being but is also critical to their overall success. Here are five safeguarding tips to help your institution prepare for the new academic year

Diversity in any field brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas. In engineering, this diversity is vital for innovation. Encouraging both men and women to pursue engineering careers is not only empowering for everyone but also drives progress within the industry. A balanced workforce leads to better problem-solving and more creative solutions.

Safeguarding is a cornerstone of educational practice, designed to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults from harm. For lecturers, maintaining up-to-date safeguarding training is not just a legal requirement; it is a mark of professionalism and commitment to student welfare. According to industry standards, safeguarding training must be renewed every two years. This not only keeps lecturers informed of the latest policies and procedures but also reassures employers of their readiness to handle any safeguarding issues that may arise.

In a world where the landscape of employment is continuously evolving, it’s incumbent upon educational institutions to prepare students not just for the jobs of today, but for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. With technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, the future of work is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

The way we approach education is continuously evolving, and with the current wave of artificial intelligence (AI), we stand on the precipice of a new and thrilling revolution in lesson planning. This article explores how cutting-edge AI tools are reshaping the landscape of education, offering teachers innovative ways to craft more effective, engaging, and personalised learning experiences.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has approved increased funding for 13 apprenticeships in England's 'growth sectors.' The Treasury has disclosed details about a £50 million apprenticeship trial lasting two years, announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Autumn Statement of 2023. From April, 13 specific apprenticeship standards, including pipe and plate welder programmes, will receive a funding boost of £3,000 per apprentice.

Transitioning from secondary education to further education (FE) is one of the most significant leaps in a student's academic journey. It's a time when young learners are poised with anticipation, ready to embark upon new chapters that propel them towards their future careers. As educators, it is imperative that we shepherd this transition with both the professionalism and care necessary to ensure students feel confident, supported, and ready to succeed.

Teaching isn't an easy job. It requires a lot of effort, hard work, and dedication to ensure that students are receiving the best possible education. Despite the passion that teachers bring to their work, it can be a source of stress and is emotionally and mentally demanding. Due to the workload, pressure from administration, and the increasing demands of students, teachers can be prone to high levels of burnout and stress. That's why it’s important to be aware of strategies that can help in managing stress and prevent burnout.

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be very full-on, particularly for those in the education industry. Whether you're a teacher, lecturer or work in any other capacity within the sector, it's important to take steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed during this busy time of year.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced plans to launch a two-year “apprenticeship growth sector pilot” in a bid to increase the numbers of apprenticeships in engineering and other key growth areas. The aim pilot will be to discover new opportunities for growth within the sector, whilst also addressing the barriers that make it difficult to enter. This includes training entry, funding issues and required industry standards.

The Advanced British Standard (ABS) is set to revolutionise the education landscape across the UK. With an announcement from the Prime Minister, this groundbreaking qualification will merge the strengths of A-levels and T-levels into a unified, world-class standard for 16- to 18-year-olds. In this article, we'll delve deeper into the ABS, its implementation, the transformative changes it will bring, and its impact on schools and colleges nationwide.

As a new teacher, writing lesson plans can seem intimidating, especially when you engage students and cover all the necessary material. However, lesson plans are essential to effective teaching as they keep you organised and on track. In this article, we’ll go over some tips and tricks to make the process of writing lesson plans smoother, as well as some resources to help you along the way.

Have you ever considered moving from construction work to teaching? In recent years, there has been an increase in students taking construction-related courses more than ever. As the number of students enrolling in courses increases, so does the need for more teachers. Whether you are construction academic or an industry trade specialist, you have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with the next generation.