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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 ?

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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?

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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…..’

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Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work.

Despite its limited terms of reference, the National Curriculum Review should get rid of the worst aspects of Michael Gove’s 2010 ‘reforms’ – making the curriculum broader, less Eurocentric and more inclusive. At least an element of Creative Arts is likely to be restored, along with greater access to sport and vocational subjects.  Given the … Continue reading Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work.