Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2002): Education - UK - Training

AGE AND PARTICIPATION IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

P. Taylor and P. Urwin

Work, Employment and Society, vol. 15, 2001, p. 763-779

Paper examines the issue of older workers' participation in vocational education and training based on data from the UK Labour Force Survey. Results show that, when compared with a reference group of prime age individuals, people aged between 40 and 49 and 50 and 59/64 are less likely to undergo training and also less likely to be offered training. Article concludes that the lower incidence of training among older workers can be mainly attributed to employer decision making.

CONSULTATION FOR RAISING STANDARDS: TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR LEADERS AND MANAGERS

Department for Education and Skills

London : 2002

Seeks views on the establishment of a new college that will develop programmes of use to leaders and managers across the learning and skills and higher education sectors.

FAILING COLLEGES COULD BE CLOSED FOR POOR RESULTS

R. Garner

Independent, Mar. 7^th 2002, p. 6

Reports that government is planning a crackdown on poor standards in further education colleges through a tough inspection regime. Failing colleges may be closed as a last resort.

(See also Independent. Education Supplement, Mar. 7^th 2002, p. 7)

HOW ENGLISH FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES CAN IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE

Committee of Public Accounts

London: Tso, 2002 (House of Commons papers, session 2001-02; HC 528)

Further education colleges must deliver significant improvements in performance if National Learning Targets set by government are to be met. The Learning and Skills Council needs to set targets for colleges to monitor progress. Specifically:

• the quality and qualifications of teachers need to be improved;
• a student tracking system needs to be developed to monitor progress;
• student guidance and support services need to be upgraded.

LIFELONG LANGUAGE LEARNING TO REPLACE COMPULSORY SCHOOL LESSONS

R. Smithers

Guardian, Mar. 7^th 2002, p. 11

Reports government plans to encourage people of all ages to learn foreign languages through the introduction of a "graded accreditation" system similar to that used for music.

THE MECHANICS OF "FAILURE" IN FURTHER EDUCATION : THE CASE OF BILSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

P. Goddard-Patel and S Whitehead

Policy Studies, vol. 22, 2001, p. 181-195

The introduction of a quasi-market and government imposed performance indicators have precipitated a crisis in further education leading to a string of college "failures". Article uses the case of the "failing" Bilston Community College to explore the financial consequences of closing an FE college, and the role of the former Further Education Funding Council in the debacle.

NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

D. Boyer

Working Brief, issue 131, 2002, p. 18-19

There is widespread indifference in the UK to workforce training and lifelong learning. To counter this apathy, any government-sponsored workforce development programme will need to:

• be customer led;
• offer a more flexible system of qualifications;
• give learners and employers adequate purchasing power over the service available;
• overcome the multiple barriers of time and money that prevent people taking part.

RECENT CHANGES IN UK EDUCATION AND TRAINING POLICY: A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

S. Maguire

Youth and Policy, no. 74, winter 2001/02, p. 40-58

Article relates research findings from a study on employers' demands for young people to recent policy developments. Evidence suggests that the maintenance of policies which support the expansion of post-compulsory education at the same time as retaining a work-based route into employment and training send out conflicting messages to employers. Findings also raise some questions about the validity of promoting mass post-compulsory education as a means of meeting the skill needs of the UK economy.

SAME COMPANY MAY HELP RUN REVISED ADULT SKILLS SCHEME

J. Kelly

Financial Times, Feb. 27^th 2002, p. 4

Reports that Capita, the company which ran the failed Individual Learning Accounts scheme may be in line to manage its successor. This would avoid a lengthy retendering process, as the company's existing contract is suspended and not cancelled.

A STRATEGY FOR UNDER-QUALIFIED ADULTS

M. Corney

New Economy, vol. 9, 2002, p. 41-46

The emerging government strategy for adult learning includes:

• free learning provision for employees without level 2 qualifications (GCSEs);
• statutory time off work for training and development;
• financial support for employers whose staff take time off to train;
• extended guidance at the workplace building on union learning representatives.