Episode 5 - Defunded Not Derailed: Mixed Study Programmes for 2026, A Recap & What the Future Holds

Understanding your context In the first event in our series of webinars on practical approaches for your teaching context, two of our course tutors introduce strategies for making your teaching relevant to your learners, your classroom and your wider context. The second session focuses on designing projects that celebrate local culture and cultural exchange while building communication, teamwork and creativity. These activities strengthen learner confidence and place an understanding of culture and context at the heart of your classroom. The live event took place on 17 April 2026. This workshop gives you practical ideas to help you celebrate culture in your classroom through collaborative projects. You learn how to design a clear project framework for learners to present cultural content, which will help them develop communication skills, collaboration and creativity. Including cultural content in your classes can encourage empathy and intercultural understanding as well as boosting learner confidence. Watch the session to find out more!

Speaker Paula Asad Session information Have you ever felt overwhelmed by stacks of test papers, questioning whether they truly reflect what your learners know or can do? In this practical webinar, we reimagine traditional testing and explore creative strategies to help learners authentically demonstrate their learning. Discover how to use whiteboards and exit tickets for instant feedback, how to apply teach-back methods to deepen understanding and how to design authentic assessments that foster higher-order thinking.

Episode Date: Thursday 26th March 2026 Science is one of the most critical subject areas in post-16 education, feeding directly into healthcare, engineering, laboratory sciences and dozens of other STEM careers. But as large applied qualifications are phased out, many colleges are asking the same question: what does strong Level 3 science provision actually look like from here? In Episode Three of Defunded, Not Derailed, we turn from the broader curriculum picture to a specific subject area that affects thousands of learners every year. What qualification options are currently available to colleges? How can science departments maintain clear progression routes into university and technical careers? And what might the introduction of V Levels, starting with digital, education and finance from 2027, signal for science-related curriculum planning down the line? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Amy Brewer, Science Subject Advisor at Cambridge OCR, Catherine Walls, Curriculum Manager for Science at Derby College, and Matt Ridgill, Vice Principal: Academic Education at Derby College, to explore how science specialists are navigating reform on the ground and what curriculum leaders should be considering now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Understanding your context In the first event in our series of webinars on practical approaches for your teaching context, two of our course tutors introduce strategies for making your teaching relevant to your learners, your classroom and your wider context. The second session focuses on designing projects that celebrate local culture and cultural exchange while building communication, teamwork and creativity. These activities strengthen learner confidence and place an understanding of culture and context at the heart of your classroom. The live event took place on 17 April 2026. In this practical introduction to the professional practice Understanding your context, our course tutors will explore how you can adapt materials and resources to suit your learners' needs, interests and backgrounds. They will share resources and strategies for teaching large, mixed-level classes. You will find out how your learners' home languages and cultures can become valuable resources in the classroom.

Episode Date: Thursday 19th March 2026 This week's announcements changed everything. With V Levels confirmed and the full list of defunded qualifications published on Tuesday, colleges now have the clarity they've been waiting for, and the clock is ticking. In Episode Two of Defunded, Not Derailed, we move from policy context to practical action. What does a well-designed mixed study programme actually look like? How do you structure pathways that protect learner progression in a defunded landscape? And what should senior leaders be doing right now? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Dean O'Donoghue (Cambridge OCR), Mike Chapman, Campus Principal at Education Partnership North East, and Rob Nitsch, CEO of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, to explore how colleges are approaching curriculum planning for 2026, including the decisions, risks, and frameworks that can help. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Episode Date: Thursday 5th March 2026 The FE sector is in a period of significant change. With the phased defunding of Level 3 qualifications, ongoing post-16 reform, and the continued T Level rollout, colleges are being asked to plan confidently amid genuine uncertainty. In this opening episode of Defunded Not Derailed, Gavin O'Meara is joined by Paul Steer (Cambridge OCR), Claire Green (ASCL), and Rob Nitsch (Federation of Awarding Bodies) to unpack what we know, what we don't, and what FE leaders should be doing right now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Speaker Nashwa Aly Muhammad Session information This practical session addresses the limitations of one-size-fits-all assessments. It explores the positive impact of creating equitable opportunities for all learners, including those with special educational needs, while catering to cultural differences and varied learning preferences. Learn about the key principles of accessible and inclusive assessment and how to integrate these to accommodate diverse needs, by providing alternative testing formats and designing fair and unbiased assessments.

British Red Cross

Welcome to Teaching Climate Preparedness, a comprehensive course designed to empower you with the confidence and skills to effectively teach climate preparedness using a holistic framework, developed by the British Red Cross. This course equips you with the resources, skills and training needed to successfully implement the holistic framework when teaching climate preparedness with your young people.  Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will: Demonstrated an understanding of a holistic approach to climate education and why this is appropriate given the topic. Have gained an understanding of what extreme weather and eco-anxiety are, how they affect young people, and how to support emotional wellbeing through climate education. Identified key benefits of using the Weather Together toolkit to teach climate preparedness. Gained practical skills to use the Weather Together toolkit with young people. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

British Red Cross

This course covers an introduction to teaching about global conflicts through the rules of war. It also includes handling the challenging conversations that can arise from this topic. Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will:  Demonstrate an understanding of the principle of neutrality and the rules of war. Apply a five-step method to confidently facilitate challenging classroom discussions. Use our teaching resources to engage and support your students. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

British Red Cross

This course covers an introduction to teaching about migration using a trauma-informed approach, including the tools, knowledge and resources you need to feel confident teaching about migration, even if you have young people with lived experience of migration in the room. Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will: Understand the experiences of people with refugee status or people seeking asylum, whilst defining key terminology. Understand the impact of trauma on learners and apply six trauma-informed principles to teaching about migration. Use our teacher resources to engage and support your students. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

Get the highest quality CPD from experts at your convenience, with nasen's SEND CPD on Demand - The ultimate flexible training resource. This webinar explores how effective data collection and analysis can improve decision making, and have positive impact on SEND provision across settings . • The importance of sound, evidence and data informed decision making • The decisions we make – provision management • What data sets do we use • How do we analyse data and why • The difference evidence based practice makes Full access to this resource is available for £10.

Episode Date: Thursday 2nd April 2026 Computing, IT and cyber security is one of the fastest-moving areas in post-16 education, and one of the most directly affected by qualification reform. As large applied qualifications are phased out, colleges delivering digital programmes must rethink how they structure provision to meet both learner needs and an industry that evolves by the month. In Episode Four of Defunded, Not Derailed, we move from science to digital, applying the same subject-specific lens to explore what strong Level 3 computing, IT and cyber security provision looks like from here. What qualification alternatives are available? How can colleges design programmes that keep pace with rapid industry change? And what role might V Levels and mixed study programmes play in shaping digital pathways? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Vinay Thawait, Subject Advisor at Cambridge OCR, Aman Purewal from Coventry College, and Kris Hyde from Callywith College, to explore how digital specialists are navigating reform and what curriculum leaders should be considering now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.