Blog posts for tag:colleges

Per Page

Changes to Apprenticeship grading

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 12 November 2014

Lindsay Plumpton

Skills Minister Nick Boles has revealed that new apprenticeship frameworks will no longer have to be graded using pass, merit and distinction. Instead, it will be assessed whether apprenticeships should be graded on a ‘case by case basis’ as a compromise position. The change in direction follows concerns raised by the sector regarding apprenticeship reform. However, it will only be a small number of cases where apprenticeships will be exempt from grading and there will need to be good justification to warrant this exemption.

Read More

Tagged:

The future of lifelong learning

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Wednesday 12 November 2014

David Grailey

As the campaign trails of the 3 major political parties rumble onward to the general election in May, I’m encouraged by the growing emphasis being placed on lifelong learning.  Addressing industry leaders at the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual conference earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron spoke about the importance of the nation’s workforce engaging in continual education throughout their working lives.

Read More

Tagged:

A tipping point for vocational education

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Tuesday 11 November 2014

David Grailey

Throughout our lives, career decisions can be amongst the most defining and important choices we have to make. These can feel especially daunting for those about to make their initial steps onto the career ladder from Further Education or school. It’s therefore not surprising that when making these important decisions, many young people turn to their parents as the first port of call for advice and guidance.

Read More

Tagged:

Policy Corner - 9 October 2014

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Tuesday 07 October 2014

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

More than one angle on GCSE grading (p7) Last week saw the announcement of the new GCSE grading system, which will support the introduction of new qualifications starting in 2015. The current A to G scale will be replaced with a 9-1 numerical system, with grade 4 being equivalent to a grade C, grade 7 to a grade A and the new ‘uber-grade’ 9 given to strictly controlled group of top performers.

Read More

Tagged:

Let’s get Technical

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Thursday 31 July 2014

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

In amongst the range of announcements made over the past month was a major ‘launch’ from the Department for Education, who finalised their technical guidance for Vocational Qualifications which would contribute to performance tables at Key Stage 4. Rather confusingly, qualifications that meet these requirements will be known as ‘Technical Awards’, different to already-announced ‘Technical Levels’, (which are vocational qualifications that contribute to performance tables for 16-18 year old learners).

Read More

Tagged:

Guest blog by Christina Doubleday

By Christina Doubleday, Deputy Executive Director, 157 Group, Wednesday 19 February 2014

Christine Doubleday Blog

Recent research carried out by FE Week indicates that, of the 611 members of LEPs, only 38 have either current or past experience in Further Education. LEPs are often referred to as ‘the new kids on the block’. They are usually quoted as part of an inventory of such bodies – hinting that, they too, will soon be consigned to history and we will have a new three letter acronym to come to terms with. As though we need not take them very seriously.

Read More

Tagged:

Providing learners with quality and employability

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Monday 16 September 2013

David Grailey

As we enter into the new academic year there is a noticeable theme coming from the industry surrounding “quality” and “employability”. The government promote that every learner should receive a quality education, but what does the term quality in this sense mean?  A good learning experience?  An excellent and friendly tutor?  Or providing the right qualifications to the right learner, which are at the right standard to help that learner progress in their career and life.

Read More

Tagged:

Giving learners 'added value'

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Thursday 12 September 2013

David Grailey

Welcome back and we hope you enjoyed a relaxing break.  It’s the start of a new session – a time to look to the future and plan for a successful year ahead. There’s been a lot in the news this summer about the class of 2013; the young people who’ve received their GCSE and A-Level results and are looking to the next stage in their education and career. It can be a stressful time as teens face a daunting unemployment rate of 40%. There’s been a drop in the proportion of GCSE exam entries awarded top grades for the second year in a row and the overall pass rate also fell slightly, for the first time in the exam’s 25-year history. There’s also been a fall in the proportion of A-levels awarded top grades for the second time, after years of steady increases.

Read More

Tagged:

Closing the skills gap

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Wednesday 14 August 2013

David Grailey

The UK risks failing to close its "chronic skills gaps" by continuing to push young people towards the university "default route", according to business leaders. A recent report from CBI suggests that a growing demand for high level technical skills cannot be met by traditional university courses alone, and it’s important for teens to consider apprenticeships as a viable alternative. The report states that we must “widen gateways into skilled work and promote routes to higher skills that appeal to individuals for whom a degree may not be the best option." Vince Cable, Business Secretary, agrees “a credible alternative to university is needed to help young people get the skills that the economy needs”

Read More

Tagged:

Nurturing world class skills in the UK

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Monday 15 July 2013

David Grailey

It’s been a good month to be British! Not only did Andy Murray become the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years but the UK also gave a fantastic performance at the 2013 World Skills competition in Leipzig, achieving a whole host of medals. Particular congratulations must go to Ashley Terron, a bricklayer from Warrington and George Callow, a cabinet maker from Chichester who took the top spots and were honoured as the best young tradesmen in the world. World Skills is about celebrating vocational skills and talents in all their forms; from plumbing to floristry, from hairdressing to IT. At NCFE, we think it’s important to recognise the value of these skills and nurture people’s natural aptitudes in these areas. That’s why in addition to our wide portfolio of vocational courses, we now offer a suite of qualifications in Achieving Excellence in a Vocational Skill. The qualifications range from Level 1 to Level 4 and aim to extend a learner’s range of skills, attributes and behaviours within a wider context of work-related learning.

Read More

Tagged:

Subscribe

Get notified when a new post is published.


Authors

Categories