Blog posts for tag:vocational

A recent report, Changing Patterns in Vocational Entry Qualifications, Student Support and Outcomes in Undergraduate Degree Programmes by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), identified that students with vocational qualifications didn’t possess the academic study skills developed by A Level students. The reason for the study was to analyse how well students with vocational qualifications are prepared for, and supported in, their studies at Higher Education. It explains that the range of qualifications available to 16 to 18-year-old students has grown considerably, raising the question of how well different qualification types prepare students for studies in Higher Education. There’s been an increased focus on 16 to 18-year-olds’ progression into education and employment, and particularly on Apprenticeships as the government aims for its target of 3m Apprenticeship starts by 2020.

Every year, Ofsted releases an annual report looking at the key findings and emerging themes from “over 5,000 inspections of schools, colleges and providers of further education and skills.” We’ve pulled together the key highlights for secondary schools from the report for you.

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.

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.

It was great to hear the news that a record £360,000 grant has been awarded to a team of academics for research on improving teaching standards in FE, showing a real commitment to improving vocational education. Awarded by the Gatsby Charitable Trust to a research team at the University of Huddersfield, the grant will be used to investigate how to improve both teaching and teacher training in FE colleges. The aim is to develop a sector-wide “intervention” designed to raise standards in technology, engineering, and vocational science subjects.

Skills Minister Nick Boles has recently announced that the government will be making “ground breaking changes to technical and professional education.” Many believe the upcoming changes are a continuation of the reforms brought on by the 2011 Wolf report, which sought to remove “3000 worthless courses”. The aim is understood to be to simplify the vocational education system and bring its reputation in line with university and higher education.

We were encouraged to see the recent Policy Exchange report that calls for the government to divert up to half a billion pounds from universities into Further Education. The report, entitled Higher, Further, Faster, More argues that universities are sitting on “significant funding reserves” and that too much public spending is dedicated to Higher Education, to the detriment of the Further Education sector. The paper outlines the importance of further education and the need for “a diverse and thriving post-secondary education infrastructure” alongside our “world leading” higher education system. It argues that in order to meet its target of 3 million Apprenticeships by 2020, the government must ensure the further education sector is receiving adequate funds. The report proposes that universities should at least “partially fund themselves” due to their large income streams.

The government has recently announced it intends to scrap GCSE and A Level qualifications in ICT. Schools Minister Nick Gibb is believed to have summoned the British Computing Society (BCS) to fight to save the qualifications, before taking his final decision.

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.

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.