Blog Archives: January 2018

Tech Levels and Applied General Qualifications Current guidance from the DfE states that learners are allowed a maximum of two attempts in the external assessments for Tech Levels and Applied Generals. These attempts are currently provided by NCFE and CACHE as one attempt at the external assessment and one resit opportunity, if necessary.

Social mobility seems to be the big idea of the moment.  It is now seen as unambiguously good by all the major parties, with the former Education Secretary, Justine Greening, even declaring her commitment to social mobility as more important to her than ministerial office.  With such wide and strong support, it is not surprising that FE colleges have been keen to label themselves as ‘key’ to increasing mobility and to position it as central to their mission.  Yet this analysis, while convenient, is only partly true, and contains real dangers for the sector.  It is necessary both to take a more dispassionate view of what social mobility means; and what colleges can and cannot achieve.

NCFE is proud to announce a new working relationship with Hawk Training. Hawk Training specialises in work-based training and vocational qualifications. Dedicated to supporting learners and employers, Hawk Training has successfully been delivering innovative training and development for almost 30 years.

Following the New Year’s reshuffle, and Justine Greening’s resignation, we have a new Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP. An appointment from the Department for Work and Pensions, Damian has written in the past on Social Mobility, which has been a key driver of Theresa May’s policy agenda. His writing has previously focused on the importance of early years foundation stage, entitlement to free childcare and the EBacc as drivers of pupil excellence and social mobility. He has spoken in debates of a government ‘committed to encouraging young people to be in education, training or employment and giving them the chance to progress and achieve, stating that this ‘is critical if we are to improve productivity, promote intergenerational fairness, and tackle poverty and disadvantage.’ Damian Hinds attended St Ambrose College, a Catholic boy’s grammar school. Whether or not this will influence his position on both grammar schools and policies which affect faith schools, will remain to be seen. He is also a strong supporter of the free schools programme. 

On 2 January 2018, an amendment to the Technical and Further Education Act came in to effect which could pave the way for new or enhanced working relations between schools and FE providers. The so-called Baker Clause means that it’s now compulsory for all schools to open their doors to allow FE and training providers to advertise their services to pupils. Leaders of local authority-maintained schools and academies will now have to ensure there is an opportunity for a “range of education and training providers” to access pupils aged 13 – 18 and make them aware of the technical options available to them after they leave school.

By the time you’re reading this, the consultation on the forthcoming T-level programmes will be drawing to a close. This has been the first real opportunity for people across the sector to give their feedback on the new programme, the qualifications it will contain, and the work placement required for completion.

Before Christmas, my colleague Paul Turner wrote this blog about the ongoing saga Training Providers are facing to access £650 million worth of non-levy apprenticeships funding. Despite the precarious position a lot of good and outstanding providers were left in before Christmas, no further reassurances on money have been promised. The Association of Learning Providers had written to the Skills Minister over the break about the untenable situation a lot of providers find themselves currently in. We could cynically interpret the ministers’ lack of a response as Mrs. Milton waiting for the cabinet promotion that was widely speculated was coming her way and, as it transpires, was not offered to her.

Technical and applied qualifications in performance tables beyond 2020 It’s the Department for Education’s intention to suspend the approval processes for technical education after the current process for approval for the 2020 performance tables has concluded. Below is the statement from the Department for Education.