Drop in apprenticeships a ‘devastating blow for young people’
Conservatives accuse government of creating a lost generation as number of teenagers starting apprenticeships drops by 8%
The government was today accused of creating a “lost generation” by the Conservatives, as new statistics showed a significant drop in the number of teenagers starting apprenticeships this year.
While the numbers of new apprentices aged over 25 rose nearly [...]
Vocational exams on the increase
A total of 3.6 million vocational qualifications were awarded last year in the UK, an 11% increase on the previous year.
The growth has been driven by more pupils taking vocationally-related courses in school, rising to 322,000.
The figures, published by vocational education campaigners Edge, show the most popular vocational courses were in health, public services and [...]
Nearly a million young people not in work or education
Recession is creating record numbers of ‘neets’, government figures show
Record numbers of young people are out of school, training or work, according to new government figures released today.
The proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England – so-called “neets” – rose from 13.6% to 15.6% over the first three months [...]
Number of teenagers not in work or school rises to 10.3%
Rise from 9.7% to 10.3% in number of 16- to 18-year-olds not in school or in work due to recession, says government
The number of teenagers out of school and out of work has risen dramatically, fuelled by unemployment rates not seen since the early 1990s.
The proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or [...]
A-levels ‘too much like sat-nav’
The A-level exam has become “hollow preparation” for university, by undermining independent study and original thought, says a think tank.
The Reform group claims exam modules have created a “learn and forget culture” - which it likens to using a sat-nav rather than map-reading skills.
It says universities should ensure the quality of A-levels, taken by pupils [...]
Number of teenagers not in work or school rises to 10.3%
The number of teenagers out of school and out of work has risen dramatically, fuelled by unemployment rates not seen since the early 1990s.
The proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training increased from 9.7% at the end of 2007 to 10.3% at the end of 2008. “This is due to reduced [...]
College heads cast doubt on apprenticeships funding
Training providers fear Learning and Skills Council budget to fund apprenticeships is drying up
College principals fear funds for thousands of young people’s apprenticeships are drying up.
Heads of colleges and training providers say they have applied for funds for apprenticeships from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), but have been told money is running out.
The LSC, [...]
Divided, Labour gives the Tories a free ride. We must unite and call their bluff | Ed Balls
We’ve been playing into their hands. It’s time to join in stressing crucial policy contrasts – such as funding for young people
If the last few weeks teach us anything, it’s that a Labour party divided and turning in on itself simply lets the Tories off the hook. Less than a year before the election, the [...]
Headteachers to get greater powers to control budgets locally
Headteachers will be given responsibility for school improvement budgets in a shift away from centralised government control, the schools secretary, Ed Balls, said today.
In his first speech since it was confirmed he would be staying as secretary of state at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Balls told the National College for School Leadership’s [...]
‘All schools should be free to drop GCSEs’
By Richard Garner, Education Editor
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
All schools should be given the freedom to ditch GCSEs in favour of a new baccalaureate qualification for 16-year-olds, the headteacher of one of the country’s leading independent schools will say tomorrow.
Anthony Seldon, head of Wellington College, will argue that all schools should be free to adopt the [...]
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