Blog Archives: October 2013

The government has recently published an implementation plan called The Future of Apprenticeships in England which will give employers a stronger power in the design and delivery of Apprenticeships. These plans are a result of the Holt and Richard Review of Apprenticeships, which took place last year. All Apprenticeships that fall under the current framework will be replaced with new qualifications written by employers and other professional bodies. The new qualifications will have a minimum 12 month duration, with no exceptions.

MEPs have made a number of recommendations to tackle the issue of youth unemployment, advising that we’re in need of further measures to help young people move into work. ‘Youth guarantee’ schemes currently aim to ensure that young people under the age of 25 are offered a job, training, or a traineeship within 4 months of becoming unemployed. MEPs have now proposed that these schemes should be extended to include graduates under 30 years old.

As we adapt education approaches to the 21st century landscape, we’ve all started to challenge our thinking about how learning can be facilitated. With this in mind, distance and blended learning is becoming an increasingly viable option, extending opportunities for people who are looking to progress their skills in a fluid and flexible way. Learners are able to work at their own convenience and pace, taking control and fitting their learning into their lifestyle rather than having to follow a tight schedule of classroom based studying. This is particularly beneficial for those who are learning while they’re earning, trying to balance training and a job.

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.