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6 short weeks ago, in the November 2015 Autumn Statement, George Osborne promised some respite from the anticipated cuts for the non-protected aspects of the Education and Skills sectors for the foreseeable future – with the caveat that these would depend upon growth in the UK economy. Following the terrible weather conditions at the beginning of the year, George Osborne recently set out his vision of equally turbulent economic conditions the UK economy will be facing in 2016. The crux of his argument was that the economy faces a series of challenges to continued growth, and we can infer that these challenges may threaten the levels of spending he has set out.

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With recent reports showing that just 16% of private schools offer vocational qualifications, we explore the important role of both academic and vocational qualifications within the school curriculum. Andrew Fleck, Headmaster at Sedbergh School in Cumbria said: “There seems to be little consensus in the nation’s debate about anything relating to education, with one exception. The country needs more high-quality vocational education.

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A recent report by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has highlighted the positive impact Further Education (FE) has on helping the unemployed find work. The report, entitled “Impact of Skills and Training Intervention on the Unemployed”, comes shortly after BIS suffered a 17% cut in the wake of the Autumn Statement. Although this was less severe than many in the sector were expecting and therefore has been viewed positively, it’s still a substantial cut and one that could damage the Further Education sector.

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A recent study has shown that learners who have taken Higher Apprenticeships earn more than university graduates. The research published by The Sutton Trust shows that the lifetime earnings of those who had undertaken a Higher Apprenticeship outstrips the money earned by university graduates. Former apprentices can earn around £100,000 more than their university counterparts over a lifetime by taking an Apprenticeship at level 5.

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Three quarters of parents want to see their children given the option of both vocational and academic study from age 14 onwards, a new study has shown. Research from Baker Dearing Educational Trust has revealed that the majority of parents are recognising the value of vocational qualifications, and believe their children shouldn’t be pushed into studying only academic qualifications.

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Welcome back! I wanted to start this first newsletter of the year by recapping on the last academic year. Despite the mounting pressures on your Key Stage 4 curriculum and timetables, it is great to see so many of you continuing to offer a broad range of vocational qualifications in schools. Last year alone we saw over 10,000 pupils registered on our V Cert qualifications with thousands more registered on our broader range. This demonstrates the continued value in having subjects that appeal to different learning styles whilst providing hands on practical insight into subjects and topics.

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It’s that time when the academic school year begins to draw to a close – I’m sure you’re all looking forward to a well-earned break over the summer. However, the hiatus doesn’t need to mean a break from learning altogether and in fact provides a great opportunity to run short qualifications with relatively low Guided Learning Hours, which can help get your pupils ready for life and work and educate them on important Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) topics.

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Adult Learners’ Week 2015 began on Saturday, a week dedicated to celebrating the opportunities education can present to adults looking to upskill, further themselves in their career, or train in a completely new area. The government recently announced an imminent 24% cut to adult education funding for 2015-16; in an economy rife with spending cuts, adult education of often one of the first areas to experience harsh cuts. The Association of Colleges (AoC) has estimated this will result in the loss of a staggering 200,000 adult education places.

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Today (10 June) we’ll be celebrating the eighth annual VQ Day (Vocational Qualification Day), which highlights vocational achievement and the many benefits of practical and vocational learning. Here at NCFE we’re strong supporters of VQ Day, because it provides a platform to give vocational learning – which has long been a robust alternative option to traditional academia for many learners – the recognition it deserves in the education sector.

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The cuts to funding for adult skills in 2015-16 have been widely documented in the last month as the Association of Colleges warns that up to 190,000 adult education places will be lost next year. However, the government has stated that although overall funding is being cut, high quality apprenticeships and English and maths are being prioritised to ensure that learners are literate and numerate, with vocational qualifications of prestige. At NCFE, we have been working hard to ensure that our popular and valued vocational qualifications have their funding protected and we’re pleased to say that we now have almost 100 funded qualifications available for 15-16 with further qualifications pending approval. These qualifications include courses within Health and Social Care such as Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Dementia Care, Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings, as well as substantial qualifications such as Level 1, 2 and 3 Diplomas in Entry to the Uniformed Services and many more.

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Blog posts for author:David Grailey

Economic Forecast: Disruption ahead?

It’s all in the balance

FE makes learners more employable

Learners who take Higher Apprenticeships earn more than university graduates

Parents want vocational and academic subjects

Long live vocational study

Looking forward to summer

Adult Learners' Week 2015

VQ Day 2015

An update on adult skills funding in 2015-16

Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

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Blog posts for author:David Grailey

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Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

Categories

Archive