Degree apprenticeships heat up and pressure IT
Government data quoted in FE News shows there are now 11 applicants for every degree apprenticeship place in England, up from 3 just three years ago. If your trust supports apprenticeship routes, expect more demand for data on places, outcomes, and links to local employers, and plan how your MIS and reporting tools will cope.
The same piece argues that degree apprenticeships are a foundation, not a finished product. That is a hint to keep your skills platforms, e-portfolio tools, and careers guidance systems flexible, since course models and employer links are likely to keep shifting.
Local NEET taskforces and data sharing
Nearly 90 councils have signed up to local NEET taskforces, according to the Department for Work and Pensions in FE News. If your schools work with these councils, expect more asks for pupil data extracts and secure sharing routes, so it is worth checking your data sharing agreements and export routines now.
The same report says local leaders want to “take charge” of the NEET crisis. That may mean new local dashboards or tracking tools, so IT teams should be ready to join early talks and steer choices on security, hosting, and support.
Tech for careers and technical education
EdTech Magazine notes that career and technical education is growing as more high school students pick it as a route to steady, well paying jobs. For UK schools with strong vocational or technical paths, this is a reminder to map which labs, devices, and specialist apps really matter for those courses and to treat them as core, not nice to have.
The article also says district IT leaders are now expected to support classroom tools while enabling scalable, secure and future-ready career pathways. That lines up with what many MAT IT teams already feel, so it is a good moment to review where your current stack limits growth in vocational kit, remote access, or industry linked platforms.
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