Blog Archives: August 2013

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GCSE Results 2013 - what's your opinion?

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Thursday 22 August 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

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.  

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Youth unemployment schemes - are they working?

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Tuesday 20 August 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

As youth unemployment in the UK remains high, national schemes to tackle youth unemployment are coming under fire.  The LGA (group representing English councils) has criticised the current system as over-complicated with 35 different national schemes across 13 different age boundaries. The cost of the schemes is around £15bn a year.  However, a representative for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that although youth unemployment remains a problem, the level has fallen by 38 000 in the last year.

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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”

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Young people facing poor exam results fear ‘life without hope’

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Tuesday 13 August 2013

David Grailey

Over a third of 16-25 year olds with poor exam results surveyed for The Prince's Trust charity believed they would "end up on benefits". The report suggested that many had experienced problems at school or home so their exam results did not reflect their true potential. In response to the report, the government said that it was "taking decisive action to transform vocational education" and a spokeswoman for the Department for Education (DfE) said the government would fund "a place in education or training for every 16 and 17-year-old who wants one".

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