The aim of the newsletter is to provide up to date information on post 14 education and training developments in Wales and England.
Welsh Education News
This document sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy for developing school-based counselling services for children and young people that are of a high standard. This is produced in response to a recommendation contained within the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ Clywch Inquiry Report and to implement one of the key actions set out in the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales.
The document provides the framework for delivering WEW and guidance on how the requirements may be met in practice. WEW is part of the requirement of the Learning Core and of Learning Pathways 14-19.
There were significant geographic variations in post-16 participation in 2007/08. The unitary authorities with the highest overall post-16 learner standard participation rates were Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy. The unitary authorities with the lowest overall post-16 learner standard participation rates were Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Overall, qualification levels in Wales increased in 2008, continuing the general increase seen in recent years. An estimated 14 per cent of working age adults in Wales reported having no qualifications, 1 percentage point lower than in 2007. 70 per cent of working age adults in Wales held at least level 2 qualifications. The proportion holding degree-level qualifications (NQF levels 4 or above) was 28 per cent.
A capital investment package of over £67million to enhance education in Wales has been welcomed by Education Minister Jane Hutt. The four projects are as follows: Ebbw Vale Learning Works will receive £35million, Taf Ely Learning Campus will receive £12million, Da Vinci Arts and Innovation Centre at Bangor University will receive £15million and the 21st Century School Buildings project for Gwynedd will receive £5.3million.
Essential Skills Wales is the new suite of skills qualifications which will replace the current Key Skills of Communication, Application of Number and ICT, and the Basic Skills of Adult Literacy, Adult Numeracy and Skills for Life ICT. This new suite of skills qualifications will be implemented from the 1st of September 2010. Read on for further information.
Estyn has published a report on how schools in Wales are supporting the increasing numbers of children of migrant workers, particularly from other European Union countries. Estyn inspectors found that the number of children of migrant workers is at an all-time high, but that schools in Wales have succeeded in making sure that good relationships are forged with these learners and they integrate successfully into school life. Press release, Remit Report, WAG response.
In total, 477,277 applicants were accepted to full-time degree, foundation degree and HND courses, across the UK, starting in autumn 2009. This figure is 6 per cent higher than at the same point last year. 20,230 Welsh domiciled applicants were accepted, an increase of 10.7 per cent compared with last year (18,275).
The General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) is encouraging teachers, unions and the general public to feedback on its proposed Code of Professional Conduct and Practice that will be unveiled for the first time on 20 October 2009. The code, which outlines the conduct, practice and behaviour expected of registered teachers in Wales, is an evolution of the current guidelines that already exist.
An innovative teaching pack to help partially sighted children make the most of their sight has been launched by Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. The Low Vision Toolkit is designed to teach children with low vision about their sight and what they can do to make the most of it.
Simply providing learners with “food labelling” style information about courses could free up more money for front-line learning, according to a report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. The report, “Skills, Jobs, Growth,” says that providing learners with information which is easy to understand and compare is the key to making both FE and HE provision higher quality, less bureaucratic, and more responsive to employer needs. The report: Towards Ambition 2020: skills, jobs, growth
Education Minister Iain Wright announced a major step towards all young people continuing in education and training until 18. Trials launched in 11 areas, backed by £1m of Government investment, will pave the way for the raising of the participation age (RPA) across England in 2015.
Following a record-breaking processing year for applications, the provisional final figures for the number of students being accepted into university or college has now been released by UCAS; 477,277 applicants have now had a place confirmed at a university or college this year, an increase of 25,406 (5.6%) on the same point last year.
The Talisman is a printed newspaper specifically for adult training and Further Education providers. This issue is all about equalities and diversity with features on Warwickshire College and Brook House Sixth Form College, plus contributions from the National Learner Panel and union learn.
*Os dymunwch dderbyn y cylchlythyr wythnosol yn y Gymraeg, anfonwch e-bost at rhys.davies4@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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