Patrick Ainley David Willetts jumped before he was pushed by resigning from the Cabinet along with Michael Gove who was dismissed in Cameron’s cosmetic reshuffle. They won’t be back – Willetts hopes for a job in Europe while Gove may be editing the Daily Mail after May. Together Willetts and Gove attempted a Great Reversal … Continue reading David Willetts last desperate proposals
Author: Martin Allen
The piper(s) may have gone, but the tune remains the same?
As another difficult academic year draws to a close, it goes without saying that Michael Gove’s departure will be greeted euphorically by teachers and campaigners, particularly those who have focussed almost entirely on the ex-Secretary of State’s combative style, abrasive manner and other personal inadequacies. He may continue play a key role ‘at the heart … Continue reading The piper(s) may have gone, but the tune remains the same?
Labour’s new Technical degrees
Many of Labour’s education policy announcements are either clouded by vagueness or appear poorly thought through. No more so than with the recent proposals for Technical Degrees. (http://press.labour.org.uk/post/91140989789/ed-miliband-speech-to-the-sutton-trust) For example, David Miliband is accused by Professor Alison Wolf of both undermining the importance of Higher Level Apprenticeships and creating confusion over the status of the … Continue reading Labour’s new Technical degrees
‘Dead end’ apprenticeships are failing to help young people find lasting work
10/7/14 Apprenticeships are not improving young peoples' skills enough to provide a real alternative to university, according to new research http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/10/apprenticeships-failing-youth-unemployment-skills#start-of-comments
More Nonsense on Apprenticeships.
Several national newspapers reported Skills Minister Matthew Hancock’s latest attempt to talk up the Coalition’s faltering apprenticeship programme (www.gov.uk/government/speeches/matthew-hancocks-speech-on-a-skills-revolution). Newspapers also carried statistics showing an 18% in the number of 16 and 17 year olds signing up for apprenticeships –with 50 000 youngsters now taking this route, yet these figures take on a rather different … Continue reading More Nonsense on Apprenticeships.
Back to school for some of the NEETS: but for what sort of learning?
New Government figures (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lowest-rate-of-young-people-neet-for-20-years) show the number of 16-18 year old NEETS at the lowest level for 20 years with a drop of a fifth over the last year. 81% of the age group were in education or work based training at the end of 2013 (70% in full-time school or college). The reduction in … Continue reading Back to school for some of the NEETS: but for what sort of learning?
Labour, Young People and the Job Seekers Allowance.
Labour proposes to make unemployed young people between 18-21, without a level 3 (equivalent to A-level) qualification ineligible for Job Seekers Allowance (70% of current youth claimants are in this category). Identified as a further rolling back of the welfare state by most critics –it’s been unveiled alongside plans to make eligibility for full JSA … Continue reading Labour, Young People and the Job Seekers Allowance.
The robots are coming? The economic and educational implications of the ‘Second Machine Age’.
Martin Allen reviews The Second Machine Age. Work Progress, and Prosperity in a time of Brilliant Technologies Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee’s The Second Machine Age ( Norton 2014, ISBN 978-0-393-23935-5 ), is an important contribution to the debate about the effects of technological change on the workplace and the changing shape of the occupational structure. Advances … Continue reading The robots are coming? The economic and educational implications of the ‘Second Machine Age’.
Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,
Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley Written for The Guardian's Higher Education Network Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and progression from the lower level apprenticeships is particularly limited – despite reports to the contrary. HLAs are relatively new, designed in 2011 as equivalent to an undergraduate degree with a £25 million initial … Continue reading Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,
A GREAT TRAINING ROBBERY OR A REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
Based on new research, Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley re- fute exaggerated government claims about the successful re- introduction of apprenticeships. They explain the difficulties of emulating the German system, but also argue that more general changes in the economy threaten the existence of many of the occupaional skills with which apprenticeships have traditionally been … Continue reading A GREAT TRAINING ROBBERY OR A REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
