Blog posts for tag:schools

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Creating creative futures with vocational qualifications

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Tuesday 18 June 2013

David Grailey

Creativity and imagination are integral to the development and enrichment of young minds – shaping the way they look at the world and helping them to express themselves. Something that we are very passionate about here at NCFE. For the past few months I’ve continued to keep you posted on our V Cert qualification development and in February we gave you an update on where we were at with the first stage of the pilot project with schools. Throughout March, April and May participating schools have continued to work with us to review the content of the new qualifications and where possible deliver a selection of sample units to their pupils. We really wanted to give schools the opportunity to explore what we’d developed to help ensure that the qualifications really do help to maintain creativity within the core curriculum and continue to engage pupils.

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Education Secretary faces frosty reception at head teachers’ conference

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Monday 20 May 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

Education Secretary, Michael Gove, received an angry reception when he appeared before head teachers in Birmingham at the National Association of Head Teachers’ conference. The union passed a no confidence motion in his policies, while President Bernadette Hunter said that teachers and pupils have "never had it so bad" and that teaching staff live in a culture of “bullying.”

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Lack of confidence in GCSEs – what’s the answer?

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 08 May 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

A recent survey conducted by qualifications regulator Ofqual suggests that many teachers, heads and parents lack confidence in GCSE grades. The research (carried out by 4,686 people) showed that four out of five head teachers and two-thirds of teachers have had their confidence knocked by the grading controversy of last year. Ofqual would like to see faith in GCSEs restored, but what’s the answer and how can these concerns be addressed? Michael Gove suggests that the survey highlights the need for fundamental reform. A Department for Education spokesperson stated, "New GCSEs will be introduced from 2015 - they will be more rigorous, with deeper subject content and will match the best equivalent exams in the world.”

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Feedback from V Cert resource pilot project by David Grailey, Chief Executive

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Monday 15 April 2013

David Grailey

As promised earlier this year, I’m pleased to share with you an update on the V Cert resource pilot project. As mentioned in previous newsletters we're already signing up schools to run these qualifications from September. We’re using the time now to test the qualifications and strengthen our resource and support for schools choosing to run NCFE V Certs.

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Teenagers' 'mismatched' job ambitions

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Thursday 28 March 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

A recent survey amongst young people suggests there's a misalignment between young people's career expectations and the reality of the jobs available. Nick Chambers, Director of the Education and Employers Taskforce, says that the results highlight the need for better careers advice and indicate that teenagers have a weak understanding of the labour market.

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The value of the arts in creating futures

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Friday 22 March 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

The Creative Employment Programme has announced its intention to create up to 6,500 employment opportunities across the country. The road show has already visited cities nationwide, including Birmingham, Sheffield, Gateshead, Cambridge and Southampton to encourage employers to sign up. Using money from the National Lottery, Arts Council England has set up a £15 million fund to create thousands of apprenticeships, traineeships and internships in the arts and culture. The scheme will be run by Sector Skills Council, Creative and Cultural Skills, a body designed to promote training and employment in the arts sector.

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Proposed changes to Level 3 qualifications for 16-19 year olds

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Friday 08 March 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

Following the Wolf review of vocational education, the Department for Education is now consulting on proposals to establish rigorous standards for Level 3 vocational qualifications taken by 16-19 year olds in schools and colleges from September 2014. The plan is that only ‘high value’ qualifications that meet specific sets of requirements will count in performance tables from this point onward. Quality and rigour are very important to us here at NCFE. Supporting learners to reach their full potential is at the heart of everything we do. Therefore, we’ll be working with the Department throughout the consultation process to find workable solutions that will best support learners to achieve success.

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An article from David Grailey - early interest in V Cert qualifications

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Thursday 17 January 2013

David Grailey

I’d like to start by wishing you and your school a Happy New Year for 2013. Following on from last month’s newsletter, I can tell you that we’ve already started receiving requests to run the new V Cert qualifications.

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16-19 Study Programmes

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 05 December 2012

Lindsay Plumpton

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:

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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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