James Stockdale
@jamesstockdale.bsky.social
CEO/Board member in UK Skills/FE sector. Musician. Frustrated by politics but can’t tear myself away from it.
@thetimes.com you did a great piece on the chair of City and Guilds lying about having a doctorate - but there feels like so much more to investigate here… CEO getting a £1.7m bonus - selling a charity…?
I still can’t get my head around how it is possible to ‘sell’ a charity… Especially one that has a turnover of £150m a year…
December 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
@thetimes.com you did a great piece on the chair of City and Guilds lying about having a doctorate - but there feels like so much more to investigate here… CEO getting a £1.7m bonus - selling a charity…?
I still can’t get my head around how it is possible to ‘sell’ a charity… Especially one that has a turnover of £150m a year…
December 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I still can’t get my head around how it is possible to ‘sell’ a charity… Especially one that has a turnover of £150m a year…
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
All this further info coming out about #CityandGuilds is awful. Not only the sale of a charity, but then to see CEO get a £1.7m ‘bonus’, extra £100k a year salary; the chair stretch the truth about having a PHD. Whereas C&G colleagues continue to fear the future. www.linkedin.com/posts/james-...
Labour nominee for Lords lied about having a PhD | James Stockdale
How is this right...? When many City and Guilds colleagues go into the Christmas break worried about the future of this once great organisation, and their roles - the CEO gets a £1.7m bonus and a sala...
www.linkedin.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
All this further info coming out about #CityandGuilds is awful. Not only the sale of a charity, but then to see CEO get a £1.7m ‘bonus’, extra £100k a year salary; the chair stretch the truth about having a PHD. Whereas C&G colleagues continue to fear the future. www.linkedin.com/posts/james-...
I maintain that the Board have questions to answer around this. The principle of selling an organisation like City and Guilds is just wrong. And then City & Guilds to shrink UK workforce amid £22m cost-cutting drive www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
City & Guilds to shrink UK workforce amid £22m cost-cutting drive
Training and qualifications body, acquired by private Greek firm in October, to become ‘leaner organisation’
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I maintain that the Board have questions to answer around this. The principle of selling an organisation like City and Guilds is just wrong. And then City & Guilds to shrink UK workforce amid £22m cost-cutting drive www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
It feels like they’ve already decided this, how else would they be so confident in the 2027 timescales, which they don’t seem to want to move on…
🤔 Ministers are still deciding whether V Levels will be developed under the same single-licence model as T Levels, a senior Department for Education official has revealed
feweek.co.uk/officials-he...
feweek.co.uk/officials-he...
Officials hesitate over V Level licence model
Ministers are still deciding whether V Levels will be developed under the same single-licence model as T Levels, a senior DfE official has revealed.
feweek.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
It feels like they’ve already decided this, how else would they be so confident in the 2027 timescales, which they don’t seem to want to move on…
Perhaps I’ve been in the sector too long, but Dept. of Education saying that changes are a ‘big bang but needed’ thing and they want to work with all AOs feels like a charm offensive and frankly I’ve heard it before… And it feels like decisions have already been made.
November 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Perhaps I’ve been in the sector too long, but Dept. of Education saying that changes are a ‘big bang but needed’ thing and they want to work with all AOs feels like a charm offensive and frankly I’ve heard it before… And it feels like decisions have already been made.
Brilliant to see such a large attendance at the #FederationofAwardingBodies conference 2025. Shows how many are passionate about the sector…
November 27, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Brilliant to see such a large attendance at the #FederationofAwardingBodies conference 2025. Shows how many are passionate about the sector…
Reposted by James Stockdale
⌛ College performance measures for English and maths will be changed so the government can monitor how much time students have in learning before they are entered for resit exams
feweek.co.uk/francis-revi...
feweek.co.uk/francis-revi...
Francis review sparks English and maths shake-up
Review response also reveals incoming guidance for colleges on enrichment
feweek.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
⌛ College performance measures for English and maths will be changed so the government can monitor how much time students have in learning before they are entered for resit exams
feweek.co.uk/francis-revi...
feweek.co.uk/francis-revi...
My daughters school are trying to put in place an award scheme which recognise ‘exemplifying the core values’. I love this idea. I’m less sure of the ‘rewards’ which are ‘a celebratory lunch with teachers’… At that age I wouldn’t have wanted to win anything if that was the prize…
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
My daughters school are trying to put in place an award scheme which recognise ‘exemplifying the core values’. I love this idea. I’m less sure of the ‘rewards’ which are ‘a celebratory lunch with teachers’… At that age I wouldn’t have wanted to win anything if that was the prize…
I always really enjoy it when @tottenhamhotspur.com beat Everton. Well done the mighty #Spurs
October 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I always really enjoy it when @tottenhamhotspur.com beat Everton. Well done the mighty #Spurs
Really interesting appointment. BIG job ahead to drive #SEG forward. www.skillsandeducationgroup.co.uk/skills-and-e...
Skills and Education Group Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Drive Transformation and Growth : Skills and Education Group
Moving forward together. Skills and education for all.
www.skillsandeducationgroup.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Really interesting appointment. BIG job ahead to drive #SEG forward. www.skillsandeducationgroup.co.uk/skills-and-e...
#PrimeMinister is looking for a new Private Secretary…
October 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
#PrimeMinister is looking for a new Private Secretary…
Brilliant summary @feweek.bsky.social summary of the post-16 White Paper far easier to digest than the 71 pages…
Some suprising twists and turns in the post-16 white paper this evening.
Buckle up for your trusty @feweek.bsky.social roundup:
feweek.co.uk/new-law-to-b...
Buckle up for your trusty @feweek.bsky.social roundup:
feweek.co.uk/new-law-to-b...
New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms
The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled
feweek.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Brilliant summary @feweek.bsky.social summary of the post-16 White Paper far easier to digest than the 71 pages…
Reposted by James Stockdale
Check out our latest Weekly Round-Up! A look back at the main education news and policy stories appearing last week and a peek forward at what's coming up in the next seven days https://buff.ly/jeG7gBI #ednews #edpolicy #ukedchat
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Check out our latest Weekly Round-Up! A look back at the main education news and policy stories appearing last week and a peek forward at what's coming up in the next seven days https://buff.ly/jeG7gBI #ednews #edpolicy #ukedchat
Reposted by James Stockdale
On a day when V levels have been grabbing the headlines, it's great to see this article from Dr Sam Rushworth MP on the importance of T Levels, which shares his unique insight as a former FE lecturer and Chair of the T Levels APPG. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
This T-levels Week, let’s commit to unlocking the potential of all our young people
As we heard in the Prime Minister’s party conference speech, increasing the esteem of technical careers is deeply personal to him, particularly giv...
www.politicshome.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
On a day when V levels have been grabbing the headlines, it's great to see this article from Dr Sam Rushworth MP on the importance of T Levels, which shares his unique insight as a former FE lecturer and Chair of the T Levels APPG. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Excellent post from @geoffchapman.bsky.social around the concerning sale of one of our beloved institutions #CityandGuilds
What will happen as City & Guilds becomes a commercial company subsidiary? How appropriate was the 'easier and safer' sale option? Read how this deal is era-defining, but questions remain.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-sa...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-sa...
How will the sale of City & Guilds impact the education sector?
The biggest UK assessment sector news story in 20 years. City & Guilds, synonymous with ‘the trades’ and vocational education, has been sold.
www.linkedin.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Excellent post from @geoffchapman.bsky.social around the concerning sale of one of our beloved institutions #CityandGuilds
You can try and spin headlines and the narrative; but this feels very sad to me. The investment will come but the investment will come with the driver to make profit, and quick. As an age old institution - which has been well respected - this is a very sad day.
Creating a City & Guilds fit for the fourth industrial revolution | FE Week
Creating a City & Guilds fit for the fourth industrial revolution
City & Guilds’ landmark sale isn’t just a business move but an act of stewardship to futureproof the skills sector, say Ann Limb and Kirstie Donnelly
feweek.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
You can try and spin headlines and the narrative; but this feels very sad to me. The investment will come but the investment will come with the driver to make profit, and quick. As an age old institution - which has been well respected - this is a very sad day.
This is absolutely massive news… I also think quite sad news for the UK awarding sector. Just shows that money talks no matter the sector…
October 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This is absolutely massive news… I also think quite sad news for the UK awarding sector. Just shows that money talks no matter the sector…
Currently looking for my next C-suite role. In doing so I’m engaging with recruiters. It’s given an insight into best & worst practice from a ‘candidate’ perspective. Ghosting &non-communication is common. I certainly know which agencies I won’t be using when I’m a CEO again for my recruitment needs
October 15, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Currently looking for my next C-suite role. In doing so I’m engaging with recruiters. It’s given an insight into best & worst practice from a ‘candidate’ perspective. Ghosting &non-communication is common. I certainly know which agencies I won’t be using when I’m a CEO again for my recruitment needs
Really interesting post by @geoffchapman.bsky.social - and when he refers to ‘Exam Owners’ he means, I think, awarding bodies. I would be VERY surprised if the number of AOs that are aware of their energy usage - or even how to calculate it, gets to double digits…
Do exam owners declare their energy usage? Is the exam sector in denial about its energy usage? Read how AI and video assessment is causing a quantum leap in energy usage. And feel the irony that it's neither benchmarked nor measured!
www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-exa...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-exa...
Do exam owners declare their energy usage?
I listened to Rita Bateson FRSA this week at the RM Assessment summit in London, and was struck that for the assessment sector, energy usage remains a critical issue, but still remains a niche topic. ...
www.linkedin.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Really interesting post by @geoffchapman.bsky.social - and when he refers to ‘Exam Owners’ he means, I think, awarding bodies. I would be VERY surprised if the number of AOs that are aware of their energy usage - or even how to calculate it, gets to double digits…
Delighted to announce that I am stepping into the role of Chairman of the OCN London Board. A really exciting time for the organisation, and I’m excited to work with Carlos the CEO and the team over the coming years. ocnlondon.org.uk/news/ocn-lon...
OCN London Welcomes James Stockdale as New Chair of Trustees - OCN London
ocnlondon.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Delighted to announce that I am stepping into the role of Chairman of the OCN London Board. A really exciting time for the organisation, and I’m excited to work with Carlos the CEO and the team over the coming years. ocnlondon.org.uk/news/ocn-lon...
I’ve had to read this a few times… OMG!!! We really like making things complicated don’t we…
✌️ Breaking: Ministers are poised to announce new V Level qualifications as 'third route' between A-levels and T Levels
Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs
Ministers are poised to announce new qualifications as 'third route' between A-levels and T Levels as colleges prepare to axe applied generals
feweek.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I’ve had to read this a few times… OMG!!! We really like making things complicated don’t we…
Seriously - does anybody still read this…?
Says the paper which called judges ‘enemies of the people’, which called us ‘traitors’ and ’saboteurs’
October 1, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Seriously - does anybody still read this…?
Great article, and absolutely spot on. For as long as I can remember career guidance in schools has been painfully poor. Even my recent own experience with my eldest daughter demonstrated this. Money, effort and thought must go into impartial career advice for young people. #FENews #Careersadvice
October 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Great article, and absolutely spot on. For as long as I can remember career guidance in schools has been painfully poor. Even my recent own experience with my eldest daughter demonstrated this. Money, effort and thought must go into impartial career advice for young people. #FENews #Careersadvice