THE NATIONAL CONTEXT

Schools White Paper/Education Bill•Greater freedom from regulatory burdens•Exempts outstanding colleges from future inspections•Raising of age of participation•Ends funding disparity between schools and colleges•Abolition of Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA)

Wolf Report•Diet of low level vocational qualifications for 14-16s which actively block progression•High drop out rates and churning amongst 16-18s•Level 3 BTEC qualifications are well respected•Insufficient emphasis on English and maths•Employment experience can make up for lack of academic success for post 16 students

Some Wolf recommendations•Non GCSE qualifications should be limited•Concentrate on core academic skills•Colleges should be able to enrol students before age 16•Employers should be paid to take apprentices and for offering work experience•Qualified teachers working in colleges should be able to work in schools

The money•Single line adult budget and 25% less money by 2014/15•More money for apprenticeships•Introduction of job outcome funding payments•Changes to Benefits•Scrapping of EMA •No more 16-18 entitlement •Introduction of Minimum Contract Levels

General Comments

• HE Paper due out now• Funding for employers focussed on SME’s• Move from T2G to Apprenticeships – but still

funding for NVQs • PCDL protected