14-19 Education - Cambridge and LSE in 'soft' A-levels revolt (Telegraph, 7 January 2008)
Leading universities are preparing to reject sixth-formers who apply for degree courses armed with a string of 'soft' A-levels.
14-19 Education - Schools ban on pushing pupils to take A-levels(Telegraph, 14 January 2008)
Schools will be banned from encouraging bright pupils to take A-levels instead of new vocational courses under laws published today.
14-19 Education - Career advice 'must be impartial' (BBC, 14 January 2008)
Schools will be legally required to deliver impartial careers advice to teenagers, under proposed legislation being debated in the House of Commons.
14-19 Education - Raising leaving age is 'bad news for young people' (Guardian, 14 January 2008)
Raising the school leaving age to 18 in favour of giving young people "worthless" qualifications will destroy their job opportunities, said a thinktank paper published as the education and skills bill gets its second reading in the Commons today.
Higher Education - Ministers urged to postpone degree funding changes (Guardian, 17 January 2008)
Government promises to raise money for part-time students from £20 to £30m - to ensure universities do not suffer from cuts to degree funding - were today branded inadequate by the head of one of the institutions most likely to be affected by the changes.
Skills - Employers can use new skills diploma(Telegraph, 8 January 2008)
Opinion piece - We all know the story - young people nowadays do not provide businesses with the basic skills they need and skills shortages will mean the country faces an economic disaster, says Sir Alan Jones, chairman emeritus of Toyota UK and chair of SEMTA.
Skills - Major companies make New Year's resolution to train staff through Skills Pledge (Learning and Skills Council, 10 January 2008)
John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, today announced that eight major employers have made a commitment to training by making the Skills Pledge.
Workplace Learning - 2008: Making workplace learning matter (unionlearn, 7 January 2008)
Opinion piece - Those of us involved in union workplace learning are marking two important anniversaries this year, says Liz Smith, Director, unionlearn.
Report - Pathways to higher education: BTEC courses (HEFCE)
This report describes the attributes and progression to higher education of students who have undertaken BTEC courses at further education level.
