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Higher Futures news digest

Week ending 9 November 2007

Higher Futures news
Lifelong Learning Networks
General news
  • 14-19 Diploma - Labour's U-turn on exams is a foolish step in the wrong direction - we still wont be able to distinguish the brightest children (Times Online, 28 October 2007)
    Opinion piece: The future of public exams is perhaps the most important decision any education or "schools" secretary can take.
  • 14-19 Diplomas - These new diplomas won't be second best (Independent, 1 November 2007)
    Opinion piece: Contrary to what many newspapers would have us believe, the three new diplomas announced last week do not mean the end of A-level and GCSE, says John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.
  • 14-19 Diploma - Serious questions (Guardian, 6 November 2007)
    Opinion piece: Why have all these diplomas, if you still need A-levels? Asks David Forrester, consultant and former education civil servant.
  • 14-19 Education - What has Ed Balls got against excellence? (Telegraph, 31 October 2007)
    In politics, you need to know who your enemies are. And that it Ed Balls's big problem. For any politician asked to improve our schools, the real obstacle to progress doesn't sit on the other side of the Dispatch Box.
  • 14-19 Education - Ed Balls Webchat (10 Downing Street, 1 November 2007)
    Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, answered your questions for over an hour in a live webchat.
  • 14-19 Education - Queen's speech promises to 'raise aspirations' of the young (Guardian, 6 November 2007)
    Gordon Brown's plan to meet the "rising aspirations" of the British people were set out in the first Queen's speech under his premiership.
  • 14-19 Education - Must try harder (The Economist, 8 November 2007)
    A shake-up of schooling may miss those most in need of help.
  • Apprenticeships - A different way forward (Guardian, 30 October 2007)
    Opinion piece: The new apprenticeships are not a dead-end option, says Mark Fisher, Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency.
  • Engineering Sector - Skills crisis looming in UK nuclear industry (Times, 5 November 2007)
    The UK's nuclear industry is facing a skills crisis as experienced nuclear engineers approach retirment amid an acute shortage of UK graduates to replace them.
  • Government - Gordon Brown speech on education (10 Downing Street, 31 October 2007)
    Gordon Brown has set out his vision for education in a speech at the University of Greenwich this morning. The PM said that the UK's ambition should be a "world-class" education system, settling no more "second best".
  • Government - Teenagers who refuse to work face on the spot fines (Times, 4 November 2007)
    Teenagers who refuse to work, attend training or go to school are to be issued with on the spot fines under government proposals.
  • IAG - DIUS launches new student finance campaign (DIUS, 30 October 2007)
    The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has today launched a new campaign aimed at highlighting the financial support available to students going into University from September 2008.
  • IAG - New quality standards for IAG (Every Child Matters, 31 October 2007)
    Beverley Hughes, the Minister for Children and Young People, has today launched new Quality Standards for young people's Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) at Highfield School in Hertfordshire.
  • Lifelong Learning - The Government's latest money-saving ruse will prove harmful to lifelong learning (Independent, 6 November 2007)
    Opinion piece: It was four decades ago this autumn that the Goverment decided to work out a comprehensive plan for an "open university".
  • Part-time Study - An important lesson (Guardian, 25 October 2007)
    Opinion piece: Lifelong learning is beneficial to our economy and to our democracy - funding for part-time students should not be cut.
  • Skills and Training - A curious change of career (Guardian, 7 November 2007)
    Peter Kingston talks to Chris Humphries, head of the newly minted UK Commission for Employment and Skills, on his plans to shake up the skills and training sector.
  • Workplace Learning - Over 45,000 employees to benefit from training as four major businesses make skills pledge (Learning and Skills Council, 31 October 2007)
    On 31 October 2007, Skills Minister David Lammy MP announced four major additions to the 400 companies that have made the Skills Pledge since it was launched by Prime Minister Grodon Brown in June.
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