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In this week’s special edition of the Tes FE Podcast, head of FE Julia Belgutay speaks to apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan. They discuss last week’s level 2 and 3 results, the future of vocational qualifications and the impact of Covid on the next term.��

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Ms Keegan said the tide was beginning to turn, with more attention paid to vocational qualification results alongside GCSEs and A levels. She also says school leavers, as well as older learners, now have more and better choices as they consider their next steps. “There are going to be many skills shortages, so if you study things that are highly valued by employers, then you will be very valued,” said the minister.��

The vaccination offer to 16- and 17-year-olds would make a significant difference in FE as the new term approached, she added, as it would allow students to attend in-person classes and would stop their learning experience from being interrupted in the way it was last year.��

You can listen to the full podcast below.

The podcast: