Data published last week just reaffirms longer term changes in the nature of apprenticeships – particularly who does them and at what level. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25 It’s a mistake to see apprenticeships as an alternative pathway for 16- and 17-year-olds not continuing on the academic track, the original intention for their reintroduction at the start of the … Continue reading Apprenticeships are not helping the young
Author: Martin Allen
Skills White Paper. Good bye to 16-17 year old NEETs ?
Many people, it seems, even some practitioners and activists, don’t seem to be aware that the law requires all young people in England to continue in education or training until their 18th birthday. Enforcing this legislation (part of the 2008 Education Act) has been difficult - the most recent ONS statistics show 75,000 16–17-year-olds categorised as … Continue reading Skills White Paper. Good bye to 16-17 year old NEETs ?
Skills White Paper. Another new vocational qualification to hit schools and colleges soon?
The government’s post-16 education and skills White Paper has finally been published, but it was a pre-released announcement about the introduction of another new vocational qualification that made headlines. The announcement that the government will be consulting over new V (Vocational Level) awards has sent alarm bells through the post-16 sector, not least because it’s … Continue reading Skills White Paper. Another new vocational qualification to hit schools and colleges soon?
The grads and the NEETs
An article in the FT last week puts recent concerns about increased graduate unemployment in a wider context, https://on.ft.com/3VYJ3sk (though you might find this paywall protected) According to the FT, in the US, unemployment among recent college graduates is up 1.3 percentage points from its mid-2022 low. Concerns about the current economic climate and the … Continue reading The grads and the NEETs
“Nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”!
We don’t have much in the way of detail for Rachel Reeves Labour conference commitment of “nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”. But based on what was announced it’s going to be nothing like that. According to Reeves, every young person who has been out of work or education for 18 … Continue reading “Nothing less than the abolition of long- term youth unemployment”!
‘Skills’ goes to McFadden
As part of his reshuffle, prime minister Keir Starmer has moved responsibility for ‘skills’ from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions. Pat McFadden, formerly of the Cabinet Office, has moved jobs, replacing the struggling Liz Kendall at the DWP - although it’s reported a new ‘growth department’ is going to … Continue reading ‘Skills’ goes to McFadden
A-level results. ‘When they were up they were up…..’
A-level results day has arrived again with the extensive media footage of happy and sometimes not so happy, young people opening their envelopes. Understandably, students still like to attend their schools and colleges with friends and their teachers, rather than relying on direct emails from awarding bodies. Perhaps less understandable is why thousands of tech-savvy … Continue reading A-level results. ‘When they were up they were up…..’
Labouring under Labour
Well before being elected, Labour set out intentions to increase labour market participation. At the centre of its policies, was achieving an 80% participation rate for 18–66-year-olds over a ten-year period, way above the current 75% - though this includes part-time working. ‘Rebuilding’ Britain’s labour force has been the main brief of the Department for … Continue reading Labouring under Labour
Votes at 16. Extending citizenship or gesture politics?
Most progressives will consider the extension of the franchise to 16- & 17-year-olds a step forward. According to Keir Starmer it’s ‘because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes’. It’s considered the most significant change since 18-year-olds were given the vote in 1989. 16-year-olds are already … Continue reading Votes at 16. Extending citizenship or gesture politics?
Who needs college anymore?
Review: Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter Kathleen Delaski, Harvard Education Press. Post-16 Educator No 120 https://post16educator.org.uk/ Kathleen Delaski’s provocative book has received considerable attention in the US. Her basic argument is that the ‘college for all’ post-high school model of US education doesn’t serve the needs of the majority, … Continue reading Who needs college anymore?
Education, Economy and Society 