DCSF response from AoC who said functional skills were a bit too hard.

DCSF: The requirement to gain functional skills qualifications is one of the strengths of the Diploma. It is clear that young people need these skills in order to be able to operate in the workforce and employers are demanding them. We have to ensure that young people get every opportunity to develop and demonstrate these skills.

In order to meet the aim set out in the 14-19 Qualification Strategy of securing functional skills across all the qualification routes we are pursuing strategies to ensure that, for all young people, functional skills are achieved at the same level as the main programme of study for all young people, functional skills are achieved at the same level the main programme of study. This includes looking further at GCSE and ensuring the Report Card incentivises attainment by all.

All schools will be teaching functional skills from September 2010 when it is incorporated into the KS4 curriculum. We recognise that FS requires a different approach to teaching and learning to bring about the changes necessary for success in the qualifications and that is why we are providing extra support to schools and colleges to help them bring about this change.

Too easy or too hard?

The national press have picked up on a story from the AoC saying Diplomas are too hard and only for the brightest of students with good prior attainment.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that supposed to be the case. Functional Skills (the prior attainment that is being discussed) isn't a gimme qualification. It's demanding, rigorous and it means students and teachers have to work on the skills, not on passing tests.

What really gets me is that the Daily Mail has also jumped on the story - the same Daily Mail that runs stories saying that exams are too easy!

And of course Diplomas come in three sizes at level 1, 2, and 3 but this seems to have been missed. I'm quite pleased really, lets have more of this "its a worthwhile qualification" story.

Opportunities

Here's an interesting question. What is the best complementary product or service to Functional Skills?

I ask that because yesterday, we took a call from one of our customers and they were using the ESOL materials with some of the students - and that's the first time I've connected the two together.

I'm also thinking about this because the Guroo business has a great asset in a well informed sales team and extending our service and product offer is a small step ......

Suggestions welcomed.

What is real life Maths?

Something in the TES this week caught my eye about this, the same can be applied to English.

What is real life, what is theory?

Is poetry really English, does it really applt tyo post 14 year olds. What about Algebra or Geomtery.

Personally i think it all misses the point. Teaching for today is both short term and fairly irrelevant when today's students are about to enter the workforce for 40 years. Surely we should be teaching that staying ahead of the game in any subject is as important?

And that means having a degree of background and theoretical knowledge (in my view).

1 million unemployed youngsters

As the "owner" of a 16 and 20 year old and the uncle of another 16 and 20 year old, it's a pretty poor time to be 16 or 20 at the moment.

They have all worked hard at getting a future together, 1 in an apprenticeship, 1 in a job, 2 in education and all of them managed to get part time jobs.

But it's a worrying time for many and GMTV today talked about the lost generation.

And for many parents, they will have seen this before, it wasn't dissimilar when I was the same age in the early 80's - high unemployment, the old industries dying, high interest rates and inflation.

Colleges recruiting at age 14?

I personally think this is a pretty good idea.

There is, and always will be, a group of students who hate school. And as the age of schooling increases, this problem will only get worse so NEETs aren't going to go away.

Colleges can be part of a solution, more engaging, interesting and "adult", helping some of students who otherwise would become the next set of NEETs.

It isn't right for everyone, but I'm sure it can work for some to make it worthwhile.

Vocational Schools - old or new thinking

An idea from the Tories and worth considering.

Vocational schools.

It could be revolutionary offering a rich practical curriculum or it could be .....

Less is more?

So this week started with Ed Balls saying £2bn needed to be saved from education budgets.

It ended with Gordon Brown saying that education spending would be ring fenced and would not be cut!