Raising standards of literacy and numeracy for young adults: findings and recommendations from Alison Wolf

[Background] [Aims] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions]

Background

Alison Wolf - keynote speaker at the policy seminar - has led the Government's review of vocational education which recognises the value of strong literacy and numeracy skills for young adults.  But will her proposals meet their needs and what else needs to be done?

Despite continuing improvements in primary and secondary education, too many young people are still leaving school with low skills in literacy and numeracy.  This affects their confidence, their attitude to lifelong learning and leaves them with few choices in the labour market whatever the state of the economy.  There is also a strong likelihood this cycle of disadvantage will be passed onto the next generation.

Alison Wolf's findings recognise the value of strong literacy and numeracy skills and recommendations include:

• incentivise young people to take the most valuable vocational qualifications pre-16, while removing incentives to take large numbers of vocational qualifications to the detriment of core academic study
• introduce principles to guide study programmes for young people on vocational routes post-16 to ensure that those who have not secured a good pass in English and mathematics GCSE continue to study those subjects
• remove the requirement that all qualifications offered to 14- to 19-year-olds fit within the Qualifications and Credit Framework, which has had a detrimental effect on their appropriateness and has left gaps in the market
• enable FE lecturers and professionals to teach in schools, ensuring young people are being taught by those best suited.

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Aims

This seminar will provide an opportunity to explore in detail:
- if Alison Wolf's recommendations can raise standards of literacy and numeracy for young people
- the extent to which the proposals meet the needs of this group
- what else needs to be done to engage young people in literacy and numeracy learning.

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Audience

This event is intended for those involved in planning, delivering or managing:
- Advice and guidance
- Skills for Life, functional skills
- Vocational education
- Informal learning provision for young adults including Youth Service providers. 

It will also be of interest to policy makers and funders.

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Programme

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Event Information

• Arrival and registration is at 10:10am for a 10:40am start. The event will end with lunch at 1:30pm
• Event fee per person: £99; reduced fee for members: £75 (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee
• NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference or course fees.
• Only online application forms with the payments section completed will be processed.
• NB: If you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed.
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person)
• Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this on the application form and make yourself known at registration
• Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions
• If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

• Event: Thursday 19 January 2012
• Closing Date: Monday 16 January 2012
• Cancellations are non-refundable.
• The full fee is payable prior to the event
• Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
• A 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
• Places are to be reserved online - scroll up and click on Apply Now
• Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
• Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event.
• NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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