Apprenticeships - Fewer young people begin apprenticeships (BBC, 25 June 2009) The overall number of apprenticeships begun in 2008-09 rose 15% on the previous year but there has been a drop in the number of young people starting apprenticeships in England, official figures show.
Apprenticeships - New research finds Apprenticeships vital to region's economy (Learning and Skills Council, 30 June 2009) The
launch of the new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) was marked recently with the publication of new research, highlighting the vital contribution apprentices make to individuals, businesses and the economy in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Skills - Training provider network helps meet employment challenges (ICG, 3 July 2009)
Colleges that make up the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) training provider network are playing a pivotal part in supporting individual workers across the country to find new jobs and improve their skills.
Vocational Qualifications - Number of under-16s gaining vocational qualifications hits new high (ICG, 3 July 2009)
Over 3.6 million vocational qualifications were awarded last year according to figures released by Edge to celebrate VQ Day (Vocational Qualifications Day).
Higher Education - Tuition fees could be waived for students who stay at home(The Guardian, 8 July 2009)
The government is considering dropping tuition fees for students who stay at home to study in exchange for them waiving their right to grants and loans, it has emerged.
Higher Education - University crisis sparks emergency places plan (The Guardian, 9 July 2009)
Emergency plans are being drawn up to expand the number of university places this autumn by 10,000.
Higher Education - Thousands to miss out on university places (The Independent, 9 July 2009)
Figures show that tens of thousands of students will be denied university places this summer following a funding freeze and a surge in applications.
Higher Education - Market values dominate sector(Times Higher Education, 2 July 2009)
New universities' links to business via vocational courses and industry placements make them more likely to frame pedagogy purely in business terms.
14 - 19 Education - Have new diplomas defied their critics? (The Times, 19 June 2009)
Andy Powell, chief executive of the Edge Foundation and Alan Smithers, Professor of Education at Buckingham University share their views.
14 - 19 Education - Sharper university entrants are on the way(Times Higher Education, 19 June 2009)
Universities UK says 14-19 reforms will better equip students for university.
Further Education - Learning and skills announcement regarding next steps of the FE capital programme (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 26 June 2009). Written Ministerial Statement by Kevin Brennan regarding the 13 further education building projects that have been shortlisted by the The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to proceed to the next stage of development.
Further Education - Government Announces new plans for publishing FE College Performance results. (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 9 July 2009). Overall national results of further education institutions will be published later this month, following the first high level review of the further education sector's performance to be released under the Government's new Framework for Excellence.
Further Education - New Data Tool Benefits the further education sector (Lifelong Learning UK, 29 June 2009) LLUK has today launched a new online analysis tool to enable learning providers to benchmark their organisation against sector standards and develop strategies for improvement.
Further Education - Vital FE Workforce Strategy Enters New Phase(LLUK, 1 July 2009). LLUK has published a revised workforce development strategy for the further education sector and an accompanying guide for its implementation.
