MPs have warned that young people from disadvantaged communities’ risk being “left behind” when it comes to apprenticeships. A report by the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee found that there had been a drop in the number of apprentices coming from the most deprived areas according to a report in Independent.co.uk. Meanwhile, The independent also reports that the Government is threatening a crackdown on schools that fail to promote vocational pathways as an alternative to higher education  qualifications fo students. This follows a new report suggesting students feel pressure to choose ..read more

John Cope, Head of Education & Skills Policy at the Confederation for British Industry (CBI) has written in FE Week claiming that the Government’s policy on apprenticeships is not working and needs urgent reform. He cites two years on form the launch of the apprentice levy, apprenticeship starts are down 31 per cent. Click here for the full article. Meanwhile the Department of Education has published figures which show that civil service is recahing its apprenticeship targets and finally, FE News has produced a Funding Myth buster The post Apprenticeship news in the media – Friday 20 Septe ..read more

A report by Personnel Today claims that a quarter of HR and L&D managers have been let down by their apprenticeship training provider. It claims the quality of training provision was a major concern for many employers that offered apprenticeships, particularly low-quality tutoring and the difficulty of meeting commitments such as the requirement for 20% of the training to be done “off the job” indicating that some might be under-delivering on the promises they have made to employers. For the full report visit – https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/employers-let-down-apprenticeship-providers ..read more

Teacher crisis hits London as nearly half quit within five years The Guardian | 4th October 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/04/teacher-crisis-hits-london-as-nearly-half-quit-within-five-years Conservatives criticised as retention rates drop and pupil numbers increase. London schools are in the throes of a growing crisis in teacher retention, with figures revealing that more than four out of 10 quit the profession within five years of qualifying. Schools across England say they are struggling to recruit and retain staff, but the problem is most acute in inner London whe ..read more

Education the key this Black History Month Echo News | 4th October 2018 https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16960043.education-the-key-this-black-history-month/ The event is supported by The World of Braiding and Extensions, and The Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity that campaigns on and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health. Hildah Mulenga, founder of Mumba Children’s Project said: “This event will hopefully encourage some much needed conversation around sexual health and HIV within the black African community. “We’re thrilled to be able to use this opportunity to raise awareness ..read more

Government risks ‘neglecting needs of LGBT youth’ in sex education Pink News | 24th September 2018 https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/09/24/government-sex-education-lgbt-youth/ Campaigners have expressed concern with the findings of the first round of public consultation on what schools should be teaching in the Relationships Education and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curricula. The consultation, which runs until November 7, 2018, was called following government plans to introduce the mandatory subjects in schools across the country by September 2020. Then-Education Secretary Justine Gre ..read more

First Tui degree apprentices begin studies Travel Weekly | 17th September 2018 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/311860/first-tui-degree-apprentices-begin-studies The first Tui degree apprentices have begun their studies at the University of Hertfordshire this week. The Tui management degree apprenticeship is the first degree-level apprenticeship in the travel industry. It launched in December 2017 and attracted 475 applications from staff and external candidates. A total of 20 students have started their courses on the Tui management degree and the Tui solicitor apprenticeships. Mo ..read more

Black students more likely to be incorrectly put in lower ability maths set, new research finds Independent | September 2018 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/black-students-ability-set-streaming-maths-ucl-institute-education-research-a8526301.html Black students are two-and-a-half times more likely than white pupils to be wrongly placed in a lower ability set for maths, new research has found. Secondary schools should consider reducing the use of setting and streaming as there are “risks” with the practice, researchers from UCL Institute of Education and Queen’s Uni ..read more

A Lost Generation of Scientists? UK schools urged to do more to turn kids on to science FE News | 5th September 2018 https://www.fenews.co.uk/press-releases/79-sp-821/19358-a-lost-generation-of-scientists-uk-schools-urged-to-do-more-to-turn-kids-on-to-science Science, technology and engineering are critical to the future of Britain and the wider world. However, as the new school year starts, Britain’s parents feel the next generation of scientists could be at risk if schools don’t keep up with technological and scientific advances, new research has found. The research quizzed parents of about ..read more

Education reforms risk harming efforts to tackle child poverty, say councils The Courier.co.uk | 3rd September 2018 https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/717059/education-reforms-risk-harming-efforts-to-tackle-child-poverty-say-councils/ As part of the Scottish Government’s reform to education governance, the Education Secretary wants to see a power shift from local authorities to headteachers. COSLA, the umbrella body for councils, fears that reducing their role could reverse the advances made in helping Scotland’s poorest children. The submission to MSPs says narro ..read more