Mandy unveils 35,000 new apprenticeships

By Doireann Ronayne Peter Mandelson announced 35,000 new apprenticeships today as he shifted the focus from adult education to practical skills-based training. “We need engineers to lay the cables to expand access to high-speed internet, skilled people to build the electric vehicles of the future, and technicians to develop the medicines that will save lives,” […]

Feature: Gizza skill

By Alex Stevenson One of the most obvious, and unfortunate, consequences of a recession is that lots of people lose their jobs. Getting out of this mess requires giving them the skills to help them return to work. A fair proportion of them might decide they want to take this opportunity and switch to a […]

Profile: Sally Hunt

Just because Sally Hunt says she isn’t “macho” doesn’t mean you should underestimate her powers as a union leader. She has a biography of Catherine De Medici in her office, after all. Ms Hunt is the general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU). Representing educational workers is something she’s done all her working […]

Scottish government to enhance post-16 education

The Scottish National party (SNP) has launched a new post-16 continuing education strategy today, pitting itself against London’s policy. The proposal, 16+ Learning Choices, differs from England’s approach to post-16 higher education by focusing on a skill-based policy, increasing students’ employability after finishing schooling. “It is crucial we equip our young people with the right […]

‘NEET’ youths on the Rise

Young people aged 16-24 who are not in school, employment, or training (NEETs) have risen by 132,000 in England over the past five years, government reports have revealed. “These devastating figures reflect the rough deal on offer to so many of our young people,” said shadow skills secretary David Willetts. “If, back in 1997, we […]

Academics pour scorn on diploma proposals

Plans to replace A-levels with the new diploma could be a “disaster”, two academics have warned. Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson of the University of Buckingham have voiced doubts about plans for the new qualification, which is due to be introduced by nearly three-quarters of schools and the vast majority of colleges this […]

Union chief to give tuition fee increase warning

Further moves to privatise post-16 education will undermine efforts to build strong further and higher education foundations in Britain, a union chief will warn today. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the Universities and College Union (UCU), will press the government to avoid increasing the financial burden on students later today. Around a third of the […]

Local authorities gain responsibility for post-16 education

Local authorities will be responsible for ensuring young people can access the full “menu” of qualifications when the education leaving age rises to 18. The government has transferred the £7 billion responsibility for post-16 education to local authorities, in a move that will see the closure of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in 2010. […]

Govt to endorse ‘McA-levels’

Companies including McDonald’s will be allowed to grant employees qualifications, the government announced today. The initiative, already dubbed “McA-levels”, is part of the government’s plan to involve the private sector in helping people improve their skills and employment prospects. The company-set qualifications are part of Gordon Brown’s efforts to improve the UK’s unskilled workforce, with […]

Brown pushes apprenticeships in global “skills race”

The government has launched a major review of apprenticeships as part of Gordon Brown’s efforts to improve the workforce’s skill base. Ministers want one in five young people to be taking an apprenticeship within the next decade, with work-based training accepted as a mainstream option. To facilitate this, the prime minister told business leaders today […]