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The biggest overhaul of exams in a generation: what do you think?

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Tuesday 18 September 2012

Lindsay Plumpton

GCSEs are set to be replaced by an English baccalaureate certificate from September 2015, it was announced yesterday. The key reforms include the scrapping of modular exams in favour of a final 'tougher' exam, with pupils no longer be able to re-sit to improve their grades. It is expected that only 10% of pupils will achieve a Grade 1 with the new system, compared with the third who are currently awarded an A or A*. There will also be only one awarding body per subject area.

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Government responds to Holt’s Apprenticeship Review

By Nicola Hughes, Communications Leader, Thursday 30 August 2012

Nicola Hughes

The government has responded to the findings of the Holt Review with new measures to help small businesses take on apprentices.  Jeweller and social entrepreneur, Jason Holt, recognised in his report that apprenticeships offer significant growth opportunities for businesses yet only a small minority of SMEs currently employ apprentices.

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Apprenticeships: what could we learn from Switzerland?

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 29 August 2012

Lindsay Plumpton

With the steep rise in tuition fees, increasing amounts of young people are applying for Apprenticeships rather than turning to higher education – the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) says applications are up 53% on last year. Yet in the UK, the vocational route is not always as highly valued as the academic alternative. In Janet Murray’s recent article, she explores the education system in Switzerland – a country with one of the most successful apprenticeship systems in the world with a youth unemployment figure of just 7.5% (in contrast to 21.9% in the UK).

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Vocational training – a credible alternative to university

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 22 August 2012

Lindsay Plumpton

Despite the news that top A Level grades have fallen for the first time in 2 decades, August’s news has been filled with images of delighted A Level students, clutching their well-earned results with pride. But what does the future hold for these young people as they move on to the next chapter of their lives? It seems that many of them are opting out of university and choosing an alternative path - university applications have dropped by 8.8%, representing 15,000 students who have taken a different route. It is thought that the drop is a direct result of the rise in tuition fees (the cost of a degree is set to increase to an average £8500 per year by 2013).

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FE loans – what do you think?

By Nicola Hughes, Communications Leader, Thursday 09 August 2012

Nicola Hughes

It’s recently been announced that from August 2013, learners aged 24+ who’d like to do a Level 3 or above qualification will need to use an ‘FE loan’ to fund this. At present, the government subsidises FE courses for adults by up to 50%. The new loans will be available for those resident in the UK, who’ve not previously had a loan to do the same type and level of qualification (learners can have up to 4 loans consecutively).  A learner’s loan will cover the cost of the qualification or components of the apprenticeship but won’t include living costs or materials.

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