Latest news with #BillWatkin
The Guardian
28-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
T-level qualifications still less popular and more expensive than BTecs, watchdog finds
Popular sixth-form vocational qualifications such as BTecs should be retained until the success of T-level qualifications can be fully evaluated, the National Audit Office (NAO) has suggested. In its investigation into the introduction of the new qualification launched in 2020, the NAO noted that T-levels had been less popular and more expensive than alternatives, with only 25,000 students enrolled this year, hampered by 'uncertain' economic benefits. The NAO recommended that the Department for Education (DfE) monitor 'the potential impact on T-level demand, benefits, costs and approach before making wider strategic changes and decisions around the development of the technical qualifications landscape'. The DfE had initially forecast that 100,000 students would be enrolled in the two-year qualification by 2027, when it planned to stopped funding 'applied general qualifications' (AGQs) including many BTecs. But that forecast has since been revised down as fewer than expected students have enrolled, to a central estimate of fewer than 50,000 by 2027. In contrast, more than 270,000 students are enrolled in at least one AGQ in England. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of parliament's public accounts committee, said the NAO report 'shows that a lack of widespread awareness, declining pass rates and challenges securing industry placements risk the DfE's ability to scale up T-levels'. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said: 'The report from the NAO reinforces the need to retain a middle pathway of applied general qualifications for students for whom neither A-levels nor T-levels present the best way forward. 'T-levels represent a vital opportunity to acquire the skills and experience that are essential for the workplace but they are not right for everyone, and we need to be confident that every young person can access a valuable and valued suite of qualifications in the future.' Each T-level, in subjects such as marketing, accounting or health, is equivalent to three A-levels and as academically challenging, which critics say accounts for the lack of enthusiasm among potential students looking for vocational qualifications. The courses also requires colleges to secure lengthy industry placements for students, which the NAO identified as likely to hamper expansion. A DfE spokesperson said: 'The £28m investment recently announced by the prime minister shows the government's clear commitment to T-levels as a high-quality technical qualification which offers young people a great route into further study and a rewarding career. 'T-levels continue to grow, with nearly 60% more young people taking them last year than in the previous year.'
The Independent
04-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
National Education Union suspends planned teacher strikes in sixth form colleges
Two days of strike action by teachers in sixth form colleges across England have been suspended. National Education Union (NEU) teacher members at 32 non-academised sixth form colleges were due to strike on Thursday and Friday in an ongoing dispute over pay. But the union has announced that the planned walkouts have been suspended while it consults members on a pay offer from the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA). NEU members have already staged eight days of strike action since November in a fight for a fully-funded above-inflation pay increase. The Government announced last year that teachers in schools across England would receive a fully-funded 5.5% pay rise from September 2024. The SFCA had offered teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges 3.5% for September 2024 to March this year – and then 5.5% from April, the NEU said. Meanwhile, teachers in sixth form colleges with academy status had been offered 5.5% from September 2024, seven months earlier than their colleagues in non-academised colleges, the NEU said previously. An NEU spokesman said: 'The strike action planned for Thursday and Friday has been suspended while we consult members in non-academised sixth form colleges on the pay offer from SFCA, now that we have received firm assurances around future pay parity.' He added: 'We have received firm, written assurances from the SFCA, secured from Government, that there will be no two-tier pay offers put forward in future years and all pay awards will have a single pay settlement date.' NEU teacher members at the 32 non-academised sixth form colleges will now vote on whether to accept the pay offer or not – and no further strikes will be held until the outcome of the ballot is known. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, said: 'We are delighted to implement the employers' pay offer that will see hard working teachers in sixth form colleges receive a significant pay increase this year and end the disruption to students' education caused by ongoing strike action. 'Following SFCA's legal challenge and protracted discussions with the Department for Education, an additional £50 million grant was made available to colleges and that enabled us to increase our pay offer from 2% to 4.3%. 'The Department also agreed to use all the funding for Further Education announced at the Budget to boost the 16 to 19 funding rate and made a commitment to treat all 16 to 19 providers equally when it comes to teacher pay. 'Taken together, this is good news for students, staff and industrial relations in the sector.' Another teaching union, the NASUWT, has launched a ballot of more than 1,800 of its members in sixth form colleges in England for industrial action in a fight for a fair pay increase. Voting is due to close next week. A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: 'Ensuring people have the skills they need for the future is crucial to this government's number one mission to grow the economy. 'We recognise the vital role that further education, including sixth form colleges, play in this. 'The October Budget provided an additional £300 million revenue funding for further education to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to seize opportunity and drive growth.'
