Two years after the Scottish Government published the landmark 2023 report, Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation by economic development expert James Withers, many of his recommendations remain unimplemented. Aimed at overhauling Scotland’s post-school learning system, dazzlingly straightforward in terms of style and common sense ideas, and focussing deeply on what learners and employers need, the Withers Review was a breath of fresh air at the point it was published.

Colleges supported this milestone report at time of its publication two years ago, and its message to government and stakeholders today is still the same and can be summed up in two words: Deliver Withers.

James Withers recently gave evidence at the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee, and he expressed some concerns at the pace of reform and the persistence of systemic fragmentation in our post-school education and skills training system. Colleges are not benefitting from this ecosystem, but more importantly neither are learners. Change is moving very slowly when the world........

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