Lifelong Professional Education

Information from a range of successful projects was compiled into dissemination packs. Copies were sent to member institutions and distributed at conferences in 2010.

The South London LLN received subscription funding from member institutions which, along with monies rolled forward from the HEFCE funding, allowed the network to continue work for a futher year. The report summarises the key priorities and learning outcomes.South London LLN Extension Report – July 11

Understanding the large number of different qualifications that are on offer can be confusing. It is also far from simple to understand how qualifications compare and how learners can progress to the next level. The attached leaflet provides some broad explanation and guidance.Qualifications and UCAS Tariff information sheet

A successful conference was held at Kingston University drawing together employer, university and college representatives for the launch of new Green Technologies units, sponsored by South London Lifelong Learning Network. It is hoped these units will rovides continuing development opportunities for employers as well as employment related options for students on honours and masters programmes.Green Technologies in Building Services Engineering – paper 11 July

Foundation Degrees are university qualifications which have been developed to help learners develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required by employers. They can also help individual gain access to career pathways and to develop and enhance their own skills and career prospectsFoundation Degrees – qualifications for work

Apprenticeships Info leaflet

There are at present very few Higher Apprenticeships being offered. However, there are a number of Foundation Degrees which offer progression options from the Advanced Apprenticeship, and the South London LLN HE in FE Directory offers a quick and easy way to look at options by subject or sector area.

Both the leaflet outlining apprenticeships and progression as well as the HE in FE Directory can be found under the document archives section of this website.

In a the increasingly competitive world of entry to higher education it is essential that students, parents, employers, admissions tutors and other interested parties have a clear idea of the value of the learning and achievements of vocational learners.

The information document along with other information leaflets on vocational qualifications can be found under the March Archive.

The document on this website provides a very rough and ready comparision of vocational qualifications and their value in UCAS tariff points. In addition, a number of institutions also have in place progression agreements which clarify the entry requirments for students with vocational qualifications.

For additional information on entry requirements and vocational qualifications please contact UCAS or any one of the Lifelong Learning Networks.

Qualifications and UCAS Tariff information sheet 2010-11

Implications for Education of the Comprehensive Spending Review

To read the full report of the Comprehensive Spending Review, click here  

Higher Education 

1.   The coalition government has announced that the funding for universities will be reduced from £7.1billion to £4.2billion over the period of the CSR. The implications will inevitably mean a change in the level of fees student pay, which has since been announced as between £6,000 and £9,000 per year. However, the science budget is to remain at £4.6 billion a year, therefore protecting the teaching of and research into STEM subjects such as technology, maths and engineering.

 Further Education

2.   Once again Further Education has to respond to more challenging funding constraints. The further education budget is to be reduced by £1.1 billion, or the equivalent of 25 per cent over the next four years. However, the government insists that it continued support will be provided for basic skills provision in order to boost literacy and numeracy skills. The government also committed to increasing spending on adult apprenticeships by £250 million a year, creating an extra 75,000 apprenticeship places. The flagship Train to Gain programme is to end.

 Schools

3.   Schools have been promised that the government will maintain and increase funding every year, if only by a small percentage, for the next four years. The additional funding will help schools deal with a rise in the numbers of children. The Sure-Start programme has been protected. There will also be 15 free hours of early education and care for all disadvantaged two-year-olds. The existing 15 hours a week of free care for all three and four year olds will be maintained.

4.   The government will raise the school participation age from 16 to 18 by the end of this Parliament. It will also scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance, a grant intended to keep 16-19-year-olds from poorer homes in education. This will be replaced with “targeted support” for those facing financial barriers to education.

 5.   The Chancellor outlined savings including cutting central administration by a third and abolishing five education Quangos including QCDA, Becta, and the General Teaching Council for England. The government also plans to end a range of education programmes, and replace them with streamlined funding aimed at the those with the lowest incomes.

The South London Lifelong Learning Network ran a briefing event for admissions staff from their partner universities and colleges on the 19^th October 2010. The event was held at the University of Kingston and was well attended (over 70 delegates). The event focussed on changes to vocational qualifications and the implications of the Qualifications and Credit Framework and included the following presentations;

Setting the scene for the challenges ahead- Mandy Hobart (SL LLN)

The QCF- structures, grading and core learning- Bryan Horne (Ofqual.)

Access to HE Diplomas- structure, grading and core learning- Kath Dentith (QAA)

An awarding body perspective- Edexcel and changes to BTEC qualifications- James Dobson (Edexcel)

Diplomas- Understanding core learning and achievements and how progression requirements are met- Sandra Stalker (QCDA)

If you would like a copy of the presentations, these are available on our website. To obtain further information (including qualification fact sheets disseminated at the event) please contact Sarah Adibi – S.Adibi@kingston.ac.uk