Blog posts for author:Lindsay Plumpton

A new report, Technical Matters, is calling for a transformation of vocational education, so that high quality technical and vocational studies are given the same prestige as academic qualifications. The report expresses concerns that the Government's increasing focus on academic skills, while welcome, "may not work to the advantage of all students in the education system". Drawing on the 2011 Wolf Review and the Richard Review of Apprenticeships, the latest report suggests that employers should be involved in shaping the content of vocational education so that it’s relevant to the workplace and meets skills shortages. It also recommends that Apprenticeships should be available to pupils as young as 14, but should last 3 years and be as challenging as A-Levels.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced changes to A-levels in England to make them more rigorous and reduce the number of exams taken by removing the modular structure. "Bite-sized" units will be scrapped and exams will be taken at the end of the 2-year course, giving young people the chance to gain a ‘gold standard’ qualification. The reforms mean that AS-level papers will not count towards a full A-level but will be stand-alone qualifications. There will also be a bigger role for universities in monitoring the content of A-levels.

Recent reports suggest that around 800,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia, but most have not been diagnosed. The Alzheimer's Society has expressed concern at the findings and the “unnecessary suffering” that comes as a result. One suggested explanation is the perceived "stigma" associated with the condition which results in people not visiting their GP. NCFE offers a range of qualifications in dementia care, to help provide the best possible support for those suffering from dementia. The NCFE Level 2 Certificate in the Principles for Dementia Care has proven to be one of NCFE’s most popular qualifications since its launch. It covers areas such as person-centred care, the influence of positive communication methods, issues around the use of medication and the importance of providing appropriate activities.

The Government has announced plans for a new training scheme to help young people boost their skills, confidence and ultimately find sustained employment. The Traineeship Programme could be launched as soon as September 2013 and will consist of work experience, English and Maths, along with job preparation such as CV-writing tips and advice on how to prepare for an interview.

Recent figures show a drop of more than 6% in university applications with less than a month to go before the deadline for 2013. Rising tuition fees are said to be a key reason behind the fall in applications with potential students put off by the prospect of up to £27,000 debt for a 3-year course. What’s more, with ministers claiming apprenticeships will 'soon match degrees' (available at Level 6 and above), university is far from the only option for school leavers. New routes are opening up to into valuable, skilled careers as the quality and reputation of Apprenticeships continues to improve. Are Apprenticeships the future?

One in 10 young people feel they can't cope with day-to-day life, according to the results of a new study. The Prince's Trust Youth Index gauges how young people feel about their lives across a range of areas from family life to emotional health. It reveals that young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) are more than twice as likely to feel unhappy. The trust found that 27% of young people believe their prospects have been “permanently damaged” by the double-dip recessions. What’s more, 19% of those surveyed said they had no future because of the downturn. This figure increased to 36% per cent for young people classed as NEET.

Happy New Year! After the indulgence of the festive season, a number of NCFE sober soldiers have given up alcohol for the whole of January as part of a Cancer Research UK initiative. Our brave ‘dryathletes’ will be removing their beer goggles and turning their back on the bar in order to raise money for the cause. Their willpower will be rewarded with sponsorship from their fellow colleagues and the great news is that all cash raised in the office will be doubled by NCFE. If our volunteers need a night off for a special occasion, they’re able to buy a ‘golden pass’ to allow themselves a cheeky tipple without the guilt (all funds going to Cancer Research UK).

As the end of 2012 draws near, it’s a good time to reflect on what has been a challenging year for the sector as we look ahead to 2013. It’s certainly been a year of transition; with Michael Gove’s proposed E-Bacc countered by Labour’s suggested Tech-Bacc, funding and policy changes, the outcomes of several Apprenticeship reviews and the ongoing issue of employment outcomes for the FE sector. At NCFE, we’re looking to the future. Coalition policy is based around stimulating the economy to achieve growth through employment, spearheaded by apprenticeships and employability skills – this is a focus very much aligned to our own. We’ll continue to expand our range of employability related qualifications, whilst growing our Apprenticeship portfolio.

It’s the second biggest economic event in the Government’s calendar and this week George Osbourne made a series of important announcements in his Autumn Statement. Notably, the Chancellor stated that the Government will miss its own debt targets as the tougher economic conditions mean that it will take 4 rather than 3 years for debt to fall. However, he remained confident about the future and opened by saying that “it’s taking time but the British economy is healing” and that Britain is “on the right track.” He also reminded us that the UK has a greater proportion of people in work than the US or the Eurozone average.

From September 2013, the ‘Raising the Participation Age’ (RPA) policy will come into effect for learners aged 16 to 19. This means that from Summer 2013, 16 year olds in education will be required to ‘participate’ in education until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17. From summer 2015, 17 year olds will be required to participate in education until the end of the academic year in which they turn 18. This participation will be counted as learners engaging in one of the following: