The Children’s Society is launching its very first edition of The Good Childhood Report. It is the product of an ongoing research programme they began in 2005, in collaboration with theUniversity of York, to help understand what affects our children’s well-being. Read the full report here
The Children’s Society Good Childhood Report 2012
Pocket Watch 3 / 2012 – Little relief in the latest unemployment figures
19 Jan 2012: This week the latest set of labour market stats were published. They cover the period Sept-Nov 2011 and show that over that period, the UK unemployment total rose by 118,000 to 2.68m. The figure for young people, that’s 16-24 year olds, rose by 52,000 to 1.04m although that figure drops to 729,000 once the numbers in full-time education but looking for a job are taken out. The figures thus continue a depressing trend although in areas like claimant count, there is, as the Employment Minister recently suggested, some evidence of stabilisation. Read more here.
YPLA briefings on 16-19 Funding
The YPLA recently gave briefings to all schools and academies in Suffolk on 16-19 Funding – copies of the presentation are available on hyperlinks on the YPLA website:
For GFE Colleges, SixthForm Colleges and Training Providers – http://www.ypla.gov.uk/colleges_and_providers/funding/16-19-funding-statement/
For Schools and Academies –
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/schools-and-local-authorities/funding/16-19-funding-statement/
Also, as mentioned during the briefing, please find below a link to advice on capital funding on the YPLA website:
For GFE, SixthForm Colleges and Training Providers - http://www.ypla.gov.uk/colleges_and_providers/capital/
For Schools -
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/schools-and-local-authorities/capital/
Academies -
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/academies/funding-and-finance/capital-funding/
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NEWSFLASH: BBC announced that ….
31 Jan 2012: Ministers have cut the value of more than 3,100 vocational qualifications, ending their recognition in England’s school league tables. Courses such as a diploma in horse care can be worth the same as four GCSEs. The government says this has created “perverse incentives” for schools to offer them and boost their position.
So from 2014, only 70 “equivalents” will count in the tables’ headline GCSE measure and on a like-for-like basis with GCSEs. The move could make schools less likely to continue to offer such qualifications, and the government has instructed them to wait for its final list before changing their timetables for September 2012. Other examples of courses that will not be included in future league tables are the level 1 certificate in practical office skills; the BTec level 2 extended certificate in fish husbandry; and the level 2 certificate in nail technology services, all currently worth two GCSEs.
Some of those that will still count include a number of BTecs and OCR Nationals in performing arts, sport, health and social care, media, music and engineering. Education Secretary Michael Gove said the changes would extend opportunity because only qualifications which had demonstrated rigour, and had track records of taking young people into good jobs or university, would count in the future.
The list of recognised Voc GCSEs will be uploaded as soon as we have some clarity about it.
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Leacan documents
Two new documents have been added to our Leacan resources, one on the six big challenges in education for 2012 and the other on ICT developments / changes in schools. You can find them here.
Building Engagement, Building Futures
This is the coalition’s latest publication on 16-24 participation/youth employment policy which is in effect their road map both for realising 16-18 full participation through RPA and doing something about 18-24 unemployment. The initial summary is helpful, and gives a good sense of the ground covered by the rest of the document.
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Tagged Government, participation, RPA, young people, youth unemployment
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What does raising the participation age mean for me?
The Department for Education has just made some helpful factsheets available which explain what raising the participation age (RPA) will mean for young people, parents, schools and colleges, employers and local authorities. You can find the provided resources on the DfE website.
