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‘apprenticeships’

Morgan rejects AoC manifesto call on A-levels

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has rejected an Association of College (AoC) manifesto call to keep AS-levels linked to A-levels. Addressing MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee looking at exams for 15 to 19-year-olds in England on Wednesday (December 3), Ms Morgan (pictured front) defended plans to turn AS results into a separate […]

News

Apprentice training clash after NI break for bosses

Unions and business leaders have clashed over the issue of investment in training after Chancellor George Osborne announced the end of employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NIC) for apprentices under 25. Mr Osborne announced on Wednesday (December 3) that employers would no longer pay NICs for apprentices under 25 from 2016. It was already the case, […]

News

City solution to the skills shortage conundrum

Devolution of skills funding to city regions could be the key to solving local skills shortages, according to Mark Farrar Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne, at last month’s Association of Colleges conference, floated the idea that skills funding should be devolved to city regions. This proposal is similar to a key recommendation from an AAT-commissioned […]

Opinion

Looking back 100 years to when apprentices could be jailed for ‘idleness’

New research by a Lincoln university professor of history, commissioned by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), shows how apprenticeships have changed since the outbreak of the First World War, writes Paul Offord.   Today’s apprentices might expect to be hauled before their employer or tutor if they are not pulling their weight — but not […]

Bulletin

Flexibility plea after apprenticeships fall

Greater contracting flexibility at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) could help reverse the continued decline in all-age apprenticeship starts, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has claimed. All-age apprenticeship starts were at 440,400 last academic year, down 13.7 per cent, having been at 510,200 the previous year, and 520,600 in 2011/12. The 2012/13 […]

News

AELP concerns over Labour’s apprenticeship policy

The Labour Party has been urged by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) to scrap its policy that apprenticeships should start from at least level three and last a minimum of two years. Labour claims the move would improve the apprenticeship “brand”, but the AELP said the changes would stop employers taking on […]

News

MPs hear of ‘cluster’ solution to apprenticeships

Colleges should form closer ties with schools to encourage more young people into apprenticeships, Ofsted FE and skills director Lorna Fitzjohn has told MPs. She gave evidence on Wednesday (November 26) to the Education Select Committee in Portcullis House, Westminster, that focused on how the number and quality of apprenticeships for 16 to 19-year-olds could […]

News

Financial security or Ofsted outstanding, or both?

Bournville College leadership got a glowing grade one from Ofsted before the FE Commissioner Dr David Collins was sent in to sort out the finances. He later said the education watchdog could “be more useful” on college financial matters and Graham Taylor considers who’s got it right. In the Ofsted versus FE Commissioner Rumble in […]

Opinion

Careers advice on apprenticeships criticised by Ofsted FE and skills boss

Ofsted FE and skills director Lorna Fitzjohn told the House of Commons Education Select Committee that too many schools were failing to advise young people about the benefits of apprenticeships. Ms Fitzjohn this morning gave evidence to MPs in Portcullis House, Westminster, that focused on how the number and quality of apprenticeships for 16 to […]

News