Westminster Watch - Westminster Watch 1

Westminster Watch September 2008

The latest on policy and politics affecting vocational education and innovation

23 July

Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills has announced a significant expansion in funding for vocational education, in a speech marking the first ever Vocational Qualification Day.

• all 18-year-olds who do not have at least a level 3 qualification will be entitled to free training to that level until they are 25.
• the current limited offer for college-based students studying in their own time will be extended to all 19 to 25-year-olds including those being trained at work.
• young people will also be eligible for an 'Apprenticeship Credit', a voucher that can be used to approach an employer to encourage them to offer an apprenticeship.

For full details of the new initiatives:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=374930&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

22 July

The Learning & Skills Council's Annual Report 2007-08 has shown that satisfaction with and investment in Further Education continues to grow. The report claims that over 90% of learners in FE are "highly satisfied". It also highlights a 78% success rate in the sector and the £35 bn investment it is getting to 2011.

http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-549annualreportnlss-jul08.pdf

14/16 July

The Government has published the draft Apprenticeships Bill, with the aim of ensuring uniform high quality across the apprenticeship regime, and instilling greater confidence in it. The Bills main aims are to:

• ensure enough apprenticeship places are available for all suitably qualified young people to take up their entitlement of a place from 2013.
• outline the role of the new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS): leadership for the Apprenticeships programme; and a one-stop shop for employers.
• bring together a wide range of services and operations, under the NAS, which  is currently dispersed among a range of agencies, including a national apprenticeship vacancy matching service, to link potential apprentices with potential employers.

For full details of the Bill:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=374017&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

Comments to the Government on the Bill can be made by 8 October at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1571

Comments to Parliament, through the Select Committee on Innovation, Universities & Skills can be made by 1 October: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ius/ius_220708.cfm

The Bill followed an announcement two days earlier of a new London Apprenticeship Taskforce, aimed at reversing low take-up of apprenticeships in the capital:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=373697&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

15 July

The Department for Children, Schools & Families is making £60 million available for the development of nationwide showpiece projects to promote teaching of the Diploma.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0152

2 July

Parliament's Select Committee on Innovation, Universities & Skills is holding some specific case studies inquiries as part of its wider inquiry into engineering. The first two cover Geo-Engineering, and Engineering in Government. To participate:

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ius/ius_020708a.cfm

27 June

A new Further Education Framework for Excellence (FfE) will form the basis for assessing the sector from 2010, and will aim to provide greater information and choice to learners employers, while driving up standards.

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=373697&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False