News

Review of vocational education - The Wolf Report

The report makes a number of key recommendations, including: school leavers who have not secured a good pass in English and mathematics GCSE should continue to study those subjects, and FE lecturers and professionals should be allowed to teach in schools.

Call for a million learning opportunities across Britain

Skills Minister John Hayes has given his backing to a campaign to create one million opportunities for people across the UK to learn new skills in 2011.

Development of employer engagement services

This strategic review explores how support for employer engagement in the further education (FE) and skills sector can be strengthened and improved.

New approach to adult numeracy needed

The headline recommendation of the NIACE-led Independent Inquiry into Numeracy is that the Government needs to adopt a new approach to numeracy that focuses on how adults use maths and numbers in everyday life.

Financial capability: Why is it important and how can it be improved?

This perspective piece is aimed at those with an interest in the development of national financial capability strategies and those who are developing or implementing financial capability programmes.

Time to Train regulations will not be extended to employees of SME's

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) has announced that the right to request time for training will not be extended this April to employees of small and medium-sized businesses.

Welfare Reform Bill 2011

On 16 February 2011 the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill legislates for the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years, and introduces a wide range of reforms that aim to make the benefits and tax credits systems fairer and simpler.

Skills Investment Strategy provider briefing presentation

The Skills Funding Agency has published the presentation used at the nine regional Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth / Skills Investment Strategy events for colleges and training organisations held throughout January 2011.

Specification of Apprenticeships Standards England (SASE) and functional skills

The specification includes information on the functional skills achievement requirements for intermediate, advanced and higher apprenticeship frameworks.

Update on Wider Key Skills Provision

From 31 March 2011, the Skills Funding Agency will no longer be funding Wider Key Skills in the National Qualifications Framework for new starts for learners aged 19 and above.