Local authorities and schools in Wales are not all making the best use of data available to them in order to help identify and challenge poor performance and share good practice. More effective use of information on performance in national curriculum subjects and data which helps all schools to compare their performance with other similar schools, could help raise standards significantly. More Final report
This article summarises comparisons of Wales with other countries, drawn from the results of PISA 2006 and a report completed by the Statistical Directorate. Wales ranks in the middle in terms of rates of persons with tertiary (degree-level) qualifications but also has fairly high rates of people with low qualifications. More
Schools need to focus on improving boys’ literacy skills in order to close the gap between boys’ and girls’ attainment levels, says a report published by Estyn. Inspection reports for secondary schools show girls getting better results than boys in around 85% of schools. Boys performed better than girls in only 5% of secondary schools. More Final report
The main focus of this second report is the review of the structure and operation of the MAG; progress reports on the MAG’s specialist panels, including the Joint Skills Advisory Panel; analysis of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); and Educational Performance in Maintained Schools. More
Can you train the UK's most highly skilled young people to achieve success at the WorldSkills Competitions in Calgary (2009) and London (2011) as a volunteer Training Manager/WorldSkills Expert? In 2007 UK Skills took a team of 23 highly skilled young people to the WorldSkills Competition. More
This edition of Dysg's quarterly newsletter includes an interview with Sir Adrian Webb, an article on the Skills that Work for Wales consultation and a regular statistics update. It also includes a FE college's perspective on the road to excellence and an update on the quality improvement fund. Download
Are you a teacher, lecturer or work-based trainer? Do you speak fairly fluent Welsh? Would you like to improve your Welsh-language skills? If so, this 3-month language course could be for you! Training will be held at Bangor and Cardiff Universities in September 08, January 09 and April 09. Contact sabbaticalscheme@wales.gsi.gov.uk. More
DCELLS hosted a two-day ESF Implementation Workshop on 29th and 30th January at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, attracting over 200 delegates from the public, private and third sectors. Workshop sessions enabled delegates to learn more about the DCELLS ESF projects. Presentation slides and a summary report of the Workshops are available. More
The power of Government spending must be harnessed to create demand for new innovative products and services, concludes a White Paper published today. Innovation Nation sets out the Government's aim to make the UK the best place in the world to run an innovative business or public service. It argues that innovation is essential to the UK's future prosperity and the ability to tackle major challenges like climate change. More
Teaching young people to better manage their money can help prepare them for the world of bank accounts, credit cards, insurance and mortgages, according to the latest report by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. More
Policy and decision makers involved with the new Diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds are invited to this one day conference to catch up at with the latest developments and challenges to successful Diploma delivery. More
Women reluctant to venture into male dominated work sectors should take heart from successful female role models as inspiration to take the plunge, according to the Learning and Skills Council. More
The Chancellor has announced an additional £60m of resources for DIUS over the next three years to provide new opportunities for adults to acquire the skills they need to unlock their talents. More
