Driving Growth through Education and Skills
The government published ‘New Challenges New Chances' — the FE and skills system reform plan which will set the foundation of all further education and skills policy — and ‘Investing in a World Class Skills System', the skills investment statement. The plan outlines the overall strategy for the remainder of this Parliament.
Key measures include:
• Greater freedoms and flexibilities for colleges and providers
• Consulting employers in early 2012 on qualification design
• An independent commission on excellent teaching and an independent review of professionalism in the FE workforce
• Promoting the ‘Education UK' brand internationally
• Access for those aged 19 up to 24 to a full range of programmes, including basic maths and English
• FE loans to support those aged over 24 wanting to re-train or upskill
• A vocational education and training programme, including around £18mn in public funding, to support 19,000 new higher apprenticeships.
The skills investment statement confirms plans announced in autumn 2010 for an adult FE and skills budget of £3.8bn for the period 2012–13.
An important element of the New Challenges New Chances project is the commitment to ensure that information about learning and training choices is more transparent and available locally. The website, ‘FE Choices: Helping you choose where to learn or train', will be easier to use and from April 2012 there will be improved access from the National Careers Service website.
As part of its reform programme for school, vocational education, skills and welfare, the government launched, on 15 December 2011, Building Engagement Building Futures, its strategy being to improve the engagement of 16–24 year olds in education, training and work. As many as 1.16 million 16–24 year olds are not in education, employment or training and some remain out of learning or work for long periods. The aim is to have all 16 and 17 year olds in education or training by 2015; increasing the number of apprenticeships; reforming support for people with special educational needs; providing skills training for young adults and introducing personalised support through the Work Programme.
Further aid to tackle youth unemployment comes in the form of a £1bn Youth Contract. Beginning in April 2012, at least 410,000 new work opportunities will be provided over three years. The offer includes:
• Wage subsidies worth £2,275
• Employers taking on 160,000 young people
• 250,000 work-experience placements, including service academy places
• 20,000 more £1,500 incentive payments for small and medium-sized businesses taking an apprentice.
Funding of £50mn has been allocated to help NEET 16 and 17 year-olds to obtain a place in school or college or take up an apprenticeship or a job with training. The Youth Contract is for all businesses, including retail and construction that already employ large numbers of young people and emerging sectors such as the green economy and ICT.
Businesses have already been empowered to design, develop and purchase vocational training programmes under the £250mn plan announced in November 2011. Funding for apprenticeships to degree equivalent has been set at £18.7mn and a multi-million pound package has been set aside to support the UK's world-leading life sciences industry.
Key measures include:
• Greater freedoms and flexibilities for colleges and providers
• Consulting employers in early 2012 on qualification design
• An independent commission on excellent teaching and an independent review of professionalism in the FE workforce
• Promoting the ‘Education UK' brand internationally
• Access for those aged 19 up to 24 to a full range of programmes, including basic maths and English
• FE loans to support those aged over 24 wanting to re-train or upskill
• A vocational education and training programme, including around £18mn in public funding, to support 19,000 new higher apprenticeships.
The skills investment statement confirms plans announced in autumn 2010 for an adult FE and skills budget of £3.8bn for the period 2012–13.
An important element of the New Challenges New Chances project is the commitment to ensure that information about learning and training choices is more transparent and available locally. The website, ‘FE Choices: Helping you choose where to learn or train', will be easier to use and from April 2012 there will be improved access from the National Careers Service website.
As part of its reform programme for school, vocational education, skills and welfare, the government launched, on 15 December 2011, Building Engagement Building Futures, its strategy being to improve the engagement of 16–24 year olds in education, training and work. As many as 1.16 million 16–24 year olds are not in education, employment or training and some remain out of learning or work for long periods. The aim is to have all 16 and 17 year olds in education or training by 2015; increasing the number of apprenticeships; reforming support for people with special educational needs; providing skills training for young adults and introducing personalised support through the Work Programme.
Further aid to tackle youth unemployment comes in the form of a £1bn Youth Contract. Beginning in April 2012, at least 410,000 new work opportunities will be provided over three years. The offer includes:
• Wage subsidies worth £2,275
• Employers taking on 160,000 young people
• 250,000 work-experience placements, including service academy places
• 20,000 more £1,500 incentive payments for small and medium-sized businesses taking an apprentice.
Funding of £50mn has been allocated to help NEET 16 and 17 year-olds to obtain a place in school or college or take up an apprenticeship or a job with training. The Youth Contract is for all businesses, including retail and construction that already employ large numbers of young people and emerging sectors such as the green economy and ICT.
Businesses have already been empowered to design, develop and purchase vocational training programmes under the £250mn plan announced in November 2011. Funding for apprenticeships to degree equivalent has been set at £18.7mn and a multi-million pound package has been set aside to support the UK's world-leading life sciences industry.
