The 14-19 Education and Skills (see link below) White Paper in 2005 outlined DfES plans to transform learning for 14-19 year olds based on 4 key priorities:
- A greater focus on the 3Rs - the functional skills needed for everyday life, demonstrated through real life application.
- Stronger vocational routes, where young people develop in part through practical experience, with qualifications that give them a broad enough education to progress further in learning as well as into employment.
- More stretching options on both general and applied routes and activities which extend young people, backed by greater flexibility for young people to accelerate through the system, or to take longer in order to achieve higher standards.
- New ways to tackle disengagement and to ensure that those in danger of dropping out can be motivated to stay in learning.
At the heart of the reforms is an entitlement for all young people to access the education that is best suited to them, in a setting appropriate to what they are learning and where standards are assured.
By 2013 every 14-19 year old will have an entitlement to 14 Diploma lines, in addition to the existing National Curriculum.
No school will be capable of delivering the full entitlement on their own. Individual institutions will focus on the things they do well and rely on others to provide the things they do less well. This collaboration between diverse institutions, which is already happening, will ensure both that the full range of provision is available and that standards continue to rise.
For information on what is happening in Cumbria, contact details and regular updates please use the links on the right.