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.
But what does this mean for young people? Will this have an impact on their chances in the jobs market? Well, it seems that good grades are no longer the be-all and end-all. The Federation of Small Businesses has said that although top marks in academic qualifications are impressive, they’re ‘not enough to ensure that young people flourish in the workplace and give employers the skills they need.’ Employers are looking for employees possessing not only the appropriate knowledge, but also a positive mindset.
Colleges are therefore faced with the responsibility of giving learners ‘added value’ in addition to their core curriculum, helping them to leave education as well rounded individuals with the transferable skills they need. By delivering a coherent package of additional qualifications, colleges are able to make their learners more enterprising, successful and employable as well as enhancing their personal and social skills. Qualifications such as Employability, Enterprise, Learning to Learn and Interpersonal Skills can help learners to maximise their skills, develop a work ready attitude and be ready for opportunities that come their way.
Walsall College is an example of a college that has done this and gained recognition from Ofsted for adding an additional layer of quality to their curriculum. The report stated that “broader aptitudes such as communication, team working and problem solving are developed extremely well and significantly enhance students’ prospects of employment.”
NCFE can help you to add quality to your curriculum and your vocational qualification delivery. Please just get in touch on 0191 239 8000 to find out more.
