Further Education Colleges and A Levels.
The Learning and Skills Council has issued a circular, Identifying and Managing Underperformance, to further education colleges, announcing that next year it is raising the bar from a current 50% pass rate to 75% for A Levels. Nearly three-quarters of a million 16-18 year olds study in colleges, compared with around 450,000 in schools. Some colleges have already attained the 75%听and above, others have not.听 How easy will this new standard be to achieve in one year for significantly underperforming colleges; and what effect will it have on students, on the entry criteria and future of A levels courses at FE colleges?
Libby discusses the issues with Rob Wye, National Director, Learning and Skills Council, Maggie Scott, Director, Learning and Quality, Association of Colleges and Nick Lewis, Principal of Castle College Nottingham.
GCSE Languages
The proportion of pupils taking languages at GCSE has decreased dramatically in recent years: from 78% in 2001 to 40% last year. The government has announced that students will face a number of assessments rather than a single oral examination at the end of the course. These changes are in line with recommendations made by Lord Dearing, who reviewed language teaching after the number of language students fell significantly. Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, has said the new assessment will test a broader range of linguistic skills than they do currently.
Libby talks to Isabella Moore, Chief Executive, CILT, The National Centre for Languages.
Aboriginal Languages in Australian Schools
On the eve of European settlement in Australia, around 250 indigenous languages were spoken. Today most of them have been lost and only 17 are thought likely to survive for another generation. However, in the state of New South Wales, the government is attempting to reverse this and 46 schools are now running Aboriginal language classes.
Nicola Fell reports.
Controversy surrounding the Early Years Foundation Stage
The government has long been concerned with giving pre-school children from all backgrounds the best possible start in life to narrow the gap for the disadvantaged: all four year olds were given the chance for a free nursery place; and the Sure Start programme was established: aiming to bring together early education, childcare, health and family support. Their latest scheme, the Early Years Foundation Stage, is causing huge controversy by setting the standards for Learning, Development and Care from birth to five years old. This highly structured approach is ringing alarm bells with childcare and health experts, MPs and parents.
Interview with Graham Kennish, Lecturer in Education, University of Plymouth and co-founder of the Open-Eye campaign
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