The National Learning and Skills Assessment (NLSA) identifies ‘priorities for change’ that learning providers across Wales need to respond to. This letter updates the NLSA published in October 2007.
A major new action plan to promote positive behaviour and attendance in Wales has been launched by Children, Education Lifelong Learning and Skills Minister Jane Hutt. Called, Behaving and Attending, the plan is the response to the National Behaviour and Attendance Review (NBAR) which was published in May 2008 by Professor Ken Reid and his independent Review Group.
Main findings include: the workload agreement is having a very positive effect in schools. A half of schools have changed their initial arrangements as they develop better ways to meet the demands of the agreement. A majority of schools are now beginning to evaluate the impact that the arrangements are having on curriculum provision and raising standards.
This edition includes an update on the Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure and the 14-19 local curriculum.
In 2007/08 there were 241 permanent exclusions, a decrease from 291 in 2006/07. The highest rate of permanent exclusions, 2.6 exclusions per 1,000 pupils, was seen in Cardiff and Neath Port Talbot local authorities (with 55 and 23 permanent exclusions respectively).
In 2007/08 there were 19,315 staff at Welsh HEIs, 1,250 more than in 2006/07. Cardiff University employed most staff (5,880), more than double the next largest - the University of Glamorgan (2,855), Swansea University (2,395, an increase of 56 per cent on the previous year), Aberystwyth University (1,955) and Bangor University (1,805).
23,639 applicants were accepted by Welsh institutions. This was a 5 per cent increase on 2007 and 29 per cent higher than 1997. 18,595 Welsh domiciled applicants were accepted by UK institutions – a 7 per cent increase on 2007 and 28 per cent higher than in 1997; 70 per cent of the successful Welsh domiciled.
The Welsh version of the 2012 Education programme run by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to engage children and young people in Wales has been launched by the Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths.
Plans to expand and improve transport for pupils and students across Wales have been unveiled with the publication of guidance for local authorities by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said the guidance that will help local authorities manage learner travel arrangements was another key step for the Learner Travel Measure.
Education and library services in prisons in Wales will formally become the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government as of 1st April 2009. Under the transfer of functions order, which was recently approved in Parliament, responsibility and funding for prisoner learning in Wales will be transferred from the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills to the Welsh Assembly Government.
6,400 students in Further Education applied for an Assembly Learning Grant by 8th March 2009. 4,790 applications were successful (75 per cent of applications), a decrease of 3 per cent compared with the same point in time in 2007/08.
Estyn has published a report on best practice in the reading and writing of 5 to 7 year olds. Although many schools have been successful in improving standards over the last decade, the pace of improvement has now slowed. Over the past five years the proportion of 5-7 year olds achieving good levels of reading and writing skills has stopped rising, in both English and Welsh.
e-skills UK would like to invite providers to attend a conference on the new ITQ framework on the 27th May at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. The event is free to delegates.
Diplomas are reaching the crucial ‘tipping point’ as new figures show that over 97 percent of local authorities will be offering the new qualifications by September 2010, Schools Minister Jim Knight said. He also revealed that the numbers of students registered to study Diplomas is likely to triple this year – to at least 40,000.
This booklet sets out in detail what is expected of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in the area of Labour Market Information (LMI), delineating a common LMI framework for SSCs.
This report results from a survey of factors which enable post-16 learners to make good progress in sector subject area 12: languages, literature and culture, specifically, in English and modern foreign languages. Inspectors visited 18 colleges where provision in English and/or modern foreign languages had been judged to be good or outstanding at their most recent inspection. The report contains examples of good practice and recommendations for further improvement.
City & Guilds announces its sponsorship of the 2009 Apprenticeship Awards City & Guilds are delighted to announce that it is sponsoring the 2009 National Apprenticeship Awards to be held in July. This is the fifth successive year that City & Guilds is the premier sponsor of the Apprenticeship Awards, highlighting the successful partnership enjoyed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and City & Guilds in promoting Apprenticeships.
This edition includes an update on the Inspection Development Programme, the new comprehensive area assessment and the social care self-evaluation form.
The Talisman is a printed newspaper specifically for adult training and Further Education providers. This issue of talisman reviews inspection including animal care, culture, retail, social science, hospitality and construction. More
