Blog Archives: 2013

As news is released reporting on England’s low results in literacy and numeracy, NCFE is working to provide solutions to colleges allowing flexibility and a tailored approach to offering Maths and English qualifications. A study by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has shown how England’s 16 to 24 year olds are falling behind their Asian and European counterparts - ranking 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy.

With the education watchdog Ofsted recently stating that schools’ career services are not up to standard, I thought I’d start this issue by focusing on their recent comments. According to Sir Michael Wilshaw, three quarters of schools visited by Ofsted were reportedly not delivering effective careers advice. He commented last month that, "It’s worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance." Of course while this situation may be true, it’s also true that these comments come at a time when money and resource to support careers guidance have come under increasing pressure.

Influential think tank the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released the results of its recent skills survey of adults in the wealthier economies of the world… and the outcome for England gives cause for concern. The survey warns that in England, adults aged 55 to 65 perform better than 16 to 24 year olds at foundation levels of literacy and numeracy (it’s the only country in the developed world where the generation approaching retirement is more literate and numerate than the youngest adults). Out of the 24 nations surveyed, young adults in England rank 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy.

As you’ll be aware, thousands of schools in England were closed last month as teachers went out on strike over pay, pensions and jobs. The action was part of a continuing campaign of regional strikes as teachers object to proposals by Education Secretary Michael Gove, including plans to bring performance-related pay, increase their workloads and make changes to their pensions. David Cameron expressed his ‘disappointment’ in the strike which resulted in many parents struggling to find alternative childcare. However, Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, stated that teachers had not taken the action lightly and remain to be ‘committed and dedicated public service workers.'

In direct contrast to last year, Apprenticeships and the ‘Skills Gap’ are very much at the forefront of political thinking at the moment, as a solution to the 1 million + unemployed young people. They’ve been discussed more this conference season than ever before! Terms like ‘parity of esteem’ between vocational and academic qualifications, and ‘employer input and ownership’ are on the lips of politicians across the traditional political divide.

Schools’ career services are not up to standard, according to education watchdog Ofsted. Three quarters of schools visited were reportedly not delivering effective careers advice and Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw commented, "It’s worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance." The main concerns were around a lack of employer involvement and a propensity to promote academia over vocational training, resulting in young people leaving education unaware of the full range of options available to them.

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.

Welcome back everyone! Here we are once again at the start of the new academic year. I’ve no doubt that you’ll have hit the ground running and are already juggling multiple responsibilities as you welcome in your new school year groups and prepare them for the year ahead. Being this hectic does of course present many challenges not least the pressures on time. I firmly believe that NCFE as your Awarding Organisation is in a unique position to help you and your school get the most out of your precious time by providing you with the best possible support and service.

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.

Exam results day – it’s a stressful time in the lives of teens across the country as they find out the grades they’ve been awarded in return for their hard work. In the current economic climate, it’s arguably even more nerve-racking as school leavers face a daunting unemployment rate of 40%. So what’s been the outcome for the class of 2013? Well, 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.