Blog posts for tags:apprenticeships, apprenticeships, richard review

Per Page

Key points from Ofqual corporate plan

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Wednesday 18 May 2016

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Last month saw the refreshing of Ofqual’s corporate plan for 2016 through to 2019. It sets out a number of key objectives that Ofqual wants to achieve over the next 3 years, and reading between the lines, we can also get an inkling of the challenges Ofqual will be facing during that period. Ofqual has set out its key objectives in this plan; “covering standards maintenance and reform in both general and vocational qualifications, as well as our own organisational development.” This sets the theme for the plan, focusing on the introduction and regulation of new qualifications in the GCSE and Functional Skills spaces, continued rigour around Technical and Professional Education (TPE) and efficiency savings in the way Ofqual operates.

Read More

Tagged:

Choosing the right career path

By , Wednesday 18 May 2016

A recently released report has stated that better understanding is needed of why young people choose oversubscribed career paths. The AELP-published study, Routes into Work… it’s alright for some, aimed to explain why youth unemployment has remained high as the economy recovers.

Read More

Tagged:

The changing perceptions of Apprenticeships

By , Wednesday 23 March 2016

We’ve recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week and saw the Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2016 take place. Apprenticeships are still at the forefront of the education sector, but are perceptions of the programmes improving outside of the sector? Apprenticeships have long been perceived as a secondary route for young people to take in their education, particularly in comparison to A Levels or university. One of the key Ofsted Annual Report 2014-15 findings was that some schools and colleges weren’t promoting Apprenticeships equally, with many still pushing university as the default route. We’ve also seen anecdotal evidence to suggest that parents have been inclined to think the same way, and it’s often down to a lack of information on Apprenticeships.

Read More

Tagged:

National Apprenticeship Week success

By , Friday 18 March 2016

It’s been a busy week in the Further Education sector, as we celebrated National Apprenticeship Week 2016 and the FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2016 (AAC) took place. National Apprenticeship Week aims to raise awareness around Apprenticeships and celebrate the value they bring to learners, employers and the economy. The Government said the key theme this year is “An Apprenticeship can take you anywhere”, with a particular focus on higher skills to show how young people, entrepreneurs and businesses can “rise to the top” through Traineeships and Apprenticeships. This year, the week launched with an event at the London Shard and began with great news, as a number of prominent businesses announced their commitment to Apprenticeships, including Starbucks, Deloitte and Prezzo.

Read More

Tagged:

The right advice

By , Monday 22 February 2016

Careers advice is once again in the news, as a new law that states vocational and academic options must be promoted equally is touted. This follows the Ofsted Annual Report 2014-2015, which revealed that one of the most common reasons learners don’t continue study or enter into employment is because the careers advice they receive before choosing their route after school was flawed. In particular, vocational education or training and Apprenticeships were poorly promoted; in fact, Apprenticeships are often presented as a last option to learners.

Read More

Tagged:

Will Apprenticeships measures put Public Sector employment at risk?

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Tuesday 16 February 2016

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

This month saw the publication of the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ (IFS) Green Budget. The report looks at the issues and challenges facing the Chancellor as he prepares for his Budget in March. The study has highlighted the risks threatening the government’s spending plans, including how key aspects of the Apprenticeship reform programme, intended to create growth and increase productivity, may actually challenge it.

Read More

Tagged:

Policy Corner - 15 February 2016

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Monday 15 February 2016

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

The long, agonising wait for a ‘tsunami of exam reform’ (p8) - In less than 2 months time, schools will have to start teaching the new GCSEs and A Levels over 20 subjects. Ofqual still has to approve two-thirds (only 52 out of 156 have been approved) of the specifications for teaching and delivery— a situation described as ’shocking’ by teaching unions. It's up to colleges to stop this strike, says Corbyn (p46) - Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on colleges to come up with a ‘reasonable’ pay offer for their staff ahead of a national strike planned for the 24 February.

Read More

Tagged:

Apprenticeship reforms - What's the deal?

By , Tuesday 09 February 2016

The government states that it wants to improve recognition and quality of Apprenticeship programmes. It intends to achieve this by involving employers more heavily in Apprenticeships and giving them control over the standards, content and funding of an Apprenticeship. This, it argues, will ensure that all Apprenticeships suitably prepare learners for employment while also ensuring employers’ needs are met in terms of skills gaps. Another government plan is to protect the term ‘Apprenticeship’ in legislation to safeguard the brand and ensure high quality outcomes. Furthermore, in an effort to drive up the number of Apprenticeship starts, the upcoming Enterprise Bill will require at least 2.3% of public sector businesses with a workforce of 250 people or more to hire apprentices.

Read More

Tagged:

Ryan's Apprenticeship journey

By Ryan Richardson, Junior Software Developer, Friday 29 January 2016

Ryan blog.jpg

I started my Apprenticeship in Software Development last January at NCFE, which I’ve recently completed. I’ve gained important knowledge and skills, as well as qualifications and work experience – all while getting paid! Before I started my Apprenticeship, I attended the NCFE Rising Stars boot camp. During this, I achieved a Level 2 qualification in IT Professionalism, which included many different aspects of IT. This helped me better understand the path in IT I wanted to go down – Software Development, which I really enjoyed learning during the boot camp.

Read More

Tagged:

Chelsea's Apprenticeship journey

By Chelsea Dryden, Junior Tester, Tuesday 19 January 2016

Chealsea Dryden Thumbnail.jpg

My name is Chelsea Dryden, and after a year-long Apprenticeship with NCFE, I’m now a permanent Junior Tester with NCFE. My journey as an apprentice began when I signed up for NCFE’s Rising Stars Academy. This came about because of a skills shortage of IT workers in the North East, and aimed to give young people a stepping stone to begin their career in IT.

Read More

Tagged:

Subscribe

Get notified when a new post is published.


Authors

Categories