14-19 education and skills reform

Technological change and the global economy are leading to a quantitative change in demand for knowledge workers and a broader range of work place competencies and soft skills that complement academic or technical skills. Education and training in the UK is changing in line with this to ensure that every young person has a high-quality, interesting and useful curriculum that will help them achieve their potential and progress to further and higher education and skilled employment.

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Education and Skills has said, “The reforms are vital to the economy to social justice and to young people. Today’s teenagers are tomorrow’s parents, entrepreneurs, public servants and community leaders. So the stakes could not be higher. I believe that every teenager has equal worth. We owe it to them to give them the chance to show what they can do, to make the most of their talents, to reach their potential. And they key to doing that is to design a system around them – based on high standards, on choice and on meeting individuals needs and aspirations.”

The aim of the 14 to 19 reform programme is to ensure that every young person, by the age of 19, has had the education or training that prepares him or her to succeed in life. To achieve this aim young people must be guided and supported to find the right courses to help them achieve higher levels of skills and qualifications.

The key elements of the reform programme are:

* raising the minimum age at which young people leave education or training to 17 by 2013 and to 18 by 2015

* introducing a new suite of qualifications:

* Diplomas in 17 subject areas at three levels by 2013

* reforming A levels with a reduction in assessment while ensuring that every candidate is stretched and challenged

* introducing a new extended project qualification for Advanced Diploma and A level students

* creating new functional skills standards and qualifications in English, mathematics and ICT

* reviewing and updating GCSEs

* expanding Apprenticeship opportunities

* supporting learners below level 2 and level 1 through the foundation learning tier

* placing responsibility for education and training of all young people to 18 with local authorities so LAs can take a more holistic view of services for under 19s

* increased emphasis on science, technology, engineering and maths

These reforms will collectively encourage more young people to continue in learning on courses that they find engaging and that will help them to achieve more by 19.

The goal is, by 2020, for 90% of young people to achieve Level 2 (5 A* to C GCSEs equivalent) by the age of 19, and 70% to achieve level 3 qualifications by that age.

Sourced from the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper – a response to the work by Sir Mike Tomlinson and his Working Group on 14-19 reform