Is it just me, or there really a lack of direction from the Government?

I'm not much of a political person and I'd certainly never drive my personal political views onto anyone but I am just a little bit concerned about the lack of direction from the Government - after all we are 9 months in now and you'd think we would have some pretty clear policies now.

But I don't see that much of it in secondary education in particular. yes we have cuts, but with cuts we also have the view that "it's your money, you decide" and this is leading to a vacuum in strategic leadership.

Maybe this is just a feeling i have, I have no real evidence this is the case, other than what appears to be a distinct lack of political statements on a range of different educational areas including the one that I'm interested in - Functional Skills.

It's almost as though the senior politicians have said - don't bother me about things I'm not interested in - just get on with it - sort of Government by delegation?

Functional Skills Newsletter Feb 22nd

February 22nd - in this issue

It's not just the UK where Functional Skills are high on the agenda; brand new (and completely free) Functional Skills resources on Promethean Planet; national performance tables for skills download link; win fantastic executive box tickets to see Take That in Sunderland and a reminder about Sec-Ed diploma conference.

Functional Skills on the US agenda now?

"In the 2010 Critical Skills Survey by the American Management Association and Partnership for 21st Century Skills, US employers say they need a workforce fully equipped with skills beyond the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic to grow their business including:

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - The ability to make decisions, solve problems and take appropriate action
• Effective Communication - The ability to synthesise and transmit ideas in both written and oral formats
• Collaboration - The ability to work effectively with others including those from diverse groups and with opposing points of view
• Creativity and Innovation - The ability to see what's not there and make something happen"

This is not yet US Government policy, but with support from 30+ major stakeholders in Education, Business, Community & Government and taken with the US Common Core State Standards Initiative started in 2010 it does show other major economies are focussed on similar problems to ourselves. Click here for a link to the P21 site which includes the really clear diagram below.

Performance tables for 2010

We had lots of requests for this spreadsheet so with pleasure here it is. It's produced in Excel and is fully "sortable" with two worksheets for schools and LAs. Click here and it should download automatically - it's about a 1Mb though - do call me if you'd like any explanation about how I pulled the data together.

Free Functional Skills flipcharts now on Promethean Planet

Our friends at Promethean asked if they could produce some interactive Flipcarts based on Functional English and Maths at levels 1&2.

Absolutely we said, and the results are now freely available on Promethean Planet - even better, you don't need to be a Promethean whiteboard user to take advantage, the flipcarts work for everyone.

Click here for a quick link to English

And here for Maths

Registration for Promethean Planet is free, please do let us know if you download and use them - we're really keen to find out how useful they are.

Diploma Conference and Take That!

Click here to get the full rules and download the entry postcard - and yes you will have to think, it's not a free prize draw to win Take That tickets to an executive box on Tuesday 31st May show at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

All you have to do is get to Sunderland but if you don't fancy that, how about Birmingham on March 28th when our friends at Sec-Ed are holding the 7th National Conference on Diplomas focussed on maintaining delivery and cost-effective partnerships.

Guroo shortlisted for Business Awards

The North East Business Awards are being held in March.

Guroo has been shortlisted in two categories in the Durham and Wearside region - Small Business of the Year and best use of Internet/ICT for our Functional Skills resources.

Let's hope we win this time!

Guess were I got this quote?

"Creating an aligned, 21st century education system that prepares students and workers to triumph in the global skills race is the central economic competitiveness issue for the next decade."

21st century skills - Washington DC

And it goes on

"Advanced economies, innovative industries and firms, and high growth jobs require more educated workers with the ability to respond flexibly to

• Complex problems
• Communicate effectively
• Manage information
• Work in teams
• Produce new knowledge"

Now I'm getting the feeling that Functional Skills is not just something the UK needs to address and do ....!

Liquor store

OK, so here I am in Washington and the bar menu says $8 for a beer plus tax and tip = $10 easy.

Ha - go to the corner shop/garage and buy some cans, but no way, apparently only licensed liquor stores sell a can of cold Heinekin - so after 5 blocks of walking I now have my can of heinekin - actually bought a few and they were $2 each!

I quite like America, but some things are just so damn frustrating!

America

I'm in Washington DC this week, with the sole purpose of investigating the US market.

Now I know that something called Common Core State Standards are being introduced which cover Math(s) and English and when I look at these, you know they are not that different from Functional Skills.

And in talking to people in the states, many of the problems are similar. Employability skills, issues over standards of literacy and numeracy, not enough focus on problem solving.

Perhaps the UK as actually managed to catch up a little by introducing Functional Skills - although we know from previous reports, tat other countries are still well ahead in embedding.

Still, an interesting trip so far - very pleased I came.

Functional Skills Newsletter Jan 8th

Making Sense of Functional Skills - fortnightly news and comment about Functional Skills

edited and compiled by Jonathan Wells - jwells@guroo.co.uk 0191 305 5051

February 8th - in this issue

Mick Waters on skills; the end of free functional skills training; links to the performance tables which now include figures for performance in English and maths at level 1 & 2; win fantastic executive box tickets to see Take That in Sunderland.

Mick Waters on the national curriculum review

This piece appeared in the TES Comment on 28th January. Mick Waters (ex QCA and now Professor of Education at Wolverhampton) wrote about the review. What caught my eye was his focus on skills and I quote.

"What is missing and what matters?

A key word almost absent from the remit and from the white paper is "skills". In countries that are successful in the international tests, skills lie at the heart of the curriculum. Such skills are usually those that enhance the learning of the subject disciplines, but are also those that equip a young person for "the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of life"

Singapore has "life skills" and "knowledge skills" that underpin all areas of the curriculum, and New Zealand and Scotland use the term "key competencies".

They recognise that employers and business will need skills for the future, while also realising that without being able to read and write and manage numbers most people will not survive."

No more free training for Functional Skills

We understand that National Strategies work is now being completed and so there will be no more free training for schools. Although National Strategies actually finish in March, the Functional Skills contract finished on 31st December.

With no nationally co-ordinated support approach now available, Guroo is developing a programme that will bring together experienced Functional Skills practitioners and consultants with schools, colleges and training providers who need help and support.

Whether you are a provider or consumer of help and support, we'd like to know more about what you need or can provide. Get in touch with Jonathan.

Take That!

Click here to get the full rules and download the entry postcard - and yes you will have to think, it's not a free prize draw.

The prize is for two tickets to an executive box on Tuesday 31st May show at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. Included in the prize package:

• Pre concert 2 course meal with coffee
• Post concert tea/coffee and biscuits
• Private balcony for concert viewing
• Hostess service
• Minibar (at additional cost)
• Cloak facilities within each box
• Access to after show party with disco until late
• Souvenir programme
• Hotel (room only)

All you have to do is get to Sunderland.

The next newsletter is scheduled for Tuesday February 22nd - if you have any comments, suggestions or your own news that you'd like to publicise, just let me know.

Functional Skills Newsletter Feb 8th

You can read this email online here. Making Sense of Functional Skills - fortnightly news and comment about Functional Skills edited and compiled by Jonathan Wells - jwells@guroo.co.uk 0191 305 5051 February 8th - in this issue Mick Waters on skills; the end of free functional skills training; links to the performance tables which now include figures for performance in English and maths at level 1 & 2; win fantastic executive box tickets to see Take That in Sunderland. Mick Waters on the national curriculum review This piece appeared in the TES Comment on 28th January. Mick Waters (ex QCA and now Professor of Education at Wolverhampton) wrote about the review. What caught my eye was his focus on skills and I quote. "What is missing and what matters? A key word almost absent from the remit and from the white paper is "skills". In countries that are successful in the international tests, skills lie at the heart of the curriculum. Such skills are usually those that enhance the learning of the subject disciplines, but are also those that equip a young person for "the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of life" Singapore has "life skills" and "knowledge skills" that underpin all areas of the curriculum, and New Zealand and Scotland use the term "key competencies". They recognise that employers and business will need skills for the future, while also realising that without being able to read and write and manage numbers most people will not survive." Performance tables for 2010 Publication of the tables have been well documented. This link will take you straight to the tables as published on the official site. You can only search by Local Authority but just to let you know that we're also pulling together all the tables so we'll have a national picture of performance including English and maths at level 2 skills and level 1 skills. This work isn't yet finished (it's a really big job) but once it is, we'll let you all know and send the data to you on request. Please let us know if you'd like a copy of this file. No more free training for Functional Skills We understand that National Strategies work is now being completed and so there will be no more free training for schools. Although National Strategies actually finish in March, the Functional Skills contract finished on 31st December. With no nationally co-ordinated support approach now available, Guroo is developing a programme that will bring together experienced Functional Skills practitioners and consultants with schools, colleges and training providers who need help and support. Whether you are a provider or consumer of help and support, we'd like to know more about what you need or can provide. Get in touch with Jonathan. Take That! Click here to get the full rules and download the entry postcard - and yes you will have to think, it's not a free prize draw. The prize is for two tickets to an executive box on Tuesday 31st May show at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. Included in the prize package: Pre concert 2 course meal with coffee Post concert tea/coffee and biscuits Private balcony for concert viewing Hostess service Minibar (at additional cost) Cloak facilities within each box Access to after show party with disco until late Souvenir programme Hotel (room only) All you have to do is get to Sunderland. The next newsletter is scheduled for Tuesday February 22nd - if you have any comments, suggestions or your own news that you'd like to publicise, just let me know.

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