Blog Archives: October 2014

Per Page

Rising Stars - My journey so far - Ben McQuade

By Ben McQuade, NCFE Rising Star, Tuesday 21 October 2014

Ben blog

I applied for the scheme because I wanted to learn more in-depth about programming. I think it's every young boy's dream to become a game developer, and the same could be said for me! From a young age, I always involved with games, mostly through my uncle, and I decided that if I made one of these games it would be so much better.

Read More

Tagged:

Information Advice and Guidance in Schools

By Kevin Gill, Marketing Projects Leader, Monday 20 October 2014

Kev Blog

At some point in their employment, most teachers have been asked by pupils for a degree of careers guidance – what qualifications they need to get where they want to be, what training they should undertake and what skills are required. Now, the Government’s Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) strategy places schools at the heart of this process.

Read More

Tagged:

Political parties focus on Apprenticeships

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Monday 20 October 2014

David Grailey

As the 3 major political parties begin to set their sights on the General Election, which is now less than 6 months away, apprenticeships are becoming one of the hot topics of the election build-up. With the parties now jostling for pole position as their campaigns begin to build momentum, the subject of apprenticeships has cut through the noise and conflicting standpoints with a refreshing degree of consensus.

Read More

Tagged:

Responding to criticism of the FE sector

By , Monday 20 October 2014

The Further Education sector has come under criticism lately as Sir Michael Wilshaw, Head of Ofsted, has suggested that students in further education “are not being well served,” and that there is a “worryingly wide” gap between education and employment. In addition, colleges have been accused of delivering ‘irrelevant’ courses that don’t prepare learners for employment. At NCFE, we know that colleges work incredibly hard in order to prepare their learners for the world of work and we have seen many fantastic examples of this.

Read More

Tagged:

Changing perceptions of vocational education

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Monday 20 October 2014

David Grailey

Over the last few weeks there has been a number of news stories linked to vocational qualifications. Whether it’s been the growing recognition that vocational qualifications offer a valid alternative to GCSEs, or the increasing acceptance of a number of higher level vocational qualifications as valid entry into university. The debate goes on about the merit of both of these elements and within this is the long running discussion about careers advice and guidance within schools

Read More

Tagged:

Apprenticeships vs university

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 15 October 2014

Lindsay Plumpton

A recent survey carried out by NCFE has outlined that the high cost of further education has prevented almost half of UK adults gaining advanced qualifications. This comes as figures show that the average graduate debt is now £53,000 after tuition fees rose in September 2012. With an average of 250 people applying for each corporate job, and with 20% of graduates unemployed in their first 6 months after completing their university course, there is an increasing demand for vocational courses and Apprenticeships.

Read More

Tagged:

Policy Corner - 9 October 2014

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Tuesday 07 October 2014

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

More than one angle on GCSE grading (p7) Last week saw the announcement of the new GCSE grading system, which will support the introduction of new qualifications starting in 2015. The current A to G scale will be replaced with a 9-1 numerical system, with grade 4 being equivalent to a grade C, grade 7 to a grade A and the new ‘uber-grade’ 9 given to strictly controlled group of top performers.

Read More

Tagged:

Increase in apprenticeship numbers remains cross party consensus

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Thursday 02 October 2014

Lindsay Plumpton

The past fortnight has seen the 2 major political parties hold their final annual conference before the General Election in May 2015. At each event, the parties set out their policy plans and goals if they were to lead a majority government post General Election. These plans were articulated through a range of keynote speeches by significant Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet leads, as well as through fringe events, where key decision makers and corporate interests could discuss particular policy matters in a more intimate setting.

Read More

Tagged:

Subscribe

Get notified when a new post is published.


Authors

Categories