The most deep-rooted division among education professionals has been carved out by self-interest. The classroom unions are naturally wary of anything that could hit job security or hard-won employment rights. The organisations representing principals and sector leaders take a more high-level approach, and are often more prepared to take unpopular decisions if they see it as for the greater good.

This relationship is, therefore, inherently combustible. Add into the mix the rivalry and different policy positions of different types of providers all jostling to curry ministerial favour, then it’s easy to see why the main sector organisations aren’t always keen to cosy up.

This lack of consensus on the future of the sector makes it all the easier for politicians to use divide-and-rule tactics to keep the sector splintered. Former skills minister Nick Boles’ deliberate pitching of colleges against training providers at last year’s Association of Colleges (AoC) annual conference was a case in point. Why, he asked college principals, were they letting provider upstarts “nick your lunch” by dominating apprenticeships provision?

This lack of unity is a pity, because a united sector is a stronger sector. A prime example was the petition last spring opposing cuts to the adult skills budget, signed by more than 42,000 people. The leaders of the University and College Union (UCU), the ATL and NUS unions, Niace, Unison and the AoC stood shoulder-to-shoulder at 10 Downing Street to hand in the petition. It’s impossible to quantify the impact this show of force had, but taking on an entire corner of the education system is not a fight any politician would seek. Several months later, the expected cuts to the FE budget failed to materialise.

By this point, however, splinters in the uneasy alliance were emerging. The AoC’s decision not to offer an annual pay rise on behalf of its member colleges prompted strike action by the UCU. Hopefully the tabling of a pay offer by the AoC this year boosts the chances of a more harmonious relationship in the run-up to this year’s autumn statement. Given the Brexit-linked economic uncertainty, the importance of FE making its case for additional - or, at worst, the same - funding with a single loud voice has never been greater.

@stephenexley