It's party conference season again...

Edge held a very well-attended reception with the New Statesman last night for the opening of the Labour conference and we will be co-hosting a similar event on Sunday for the Conservatives. We are also working with the New Statesman on fringe events at all three main party conferences. Please do come along!

The fringe debate include a preview screening of the fabulous film ‘We Are The People We’ve Been Waiting For’ produced by New Moon Films and inspired and supported by Lord Puttnam and Sir Michael Barber. It is an independent feature-length documentary that explores education in the UK and asks whether the current system provides all young people with the opportunity to develop their talents. High-profile figures sharing their personal experiences and views include Sir Richard Branson, Germaine Greer, Henry Winkler, Bill Bryson, Sir Ken Robinson and a wide range of education experts from around the world. As with all the best movies, the November premier will be in London’s Leicester Square, with a Q&A led by Lord Puttnam.

There was a select crowd (!) for the Lib-Dem fringe last Monday – but a very well informed one, with two fantastic speakers. Leading the debate was Baroness Margaret Sharp (who is one of the best informed and most incisive of all the skills and education politicians, in my view),and Dr Annetta Minard, Head of local comprehensive Oakmead College of Technology. To quote its website, the school offers “a fully personalised curriculum covering a wide range of vocational and academic courses. The college has also developed a high reputation for its close links with local industry and commerce and has won several awards for this work.” Dr Minard was terrific and showed just what could be done if you stick to your beliefs and do what is right for your students, not what may be expected of you. There is enough flexibility in the system if you are sufficiently determined.

Meanwhile in the Independent Shirley Williams was saying "The abolition of the polytechnics is one of the reasons why the manufacturing industry has never held its own [in terms of recruitment] against the City, which takes from the traditional universities. I'd like to go back to the polytechnics. They were never second-rate universities." Hear! Hear! Actually, I already see a number of new Universities who are starting to see that their niche in a difficult market will be to become the top places for students interested in professional studies. You might call them Technical Universities – and they will be far more practical and linked to work-based learning. As the new Vice-Chancellor from London South Bank University, Martin Earwhicker, writes:
'Creating professional opportunity for all who can benefit'
Since 1892, we've been priding ourselves on creating professional opportunities for our students and equipping them to become highly successful in their chosen field. I believe that's why our graduates have consistently secured some of the highest starting salaries in the UK.