News
Social mobility is still deliverable despite higher education access gap, says ABE
Despite recently released figures revealing that several of the UK’s top universities are admitting declining numbers of students from deprived backgrounds, social mobility is still possible to all if pursued through the right channels. This is according to global non-profit organisation The Association of Business Executives (ABE). The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, show that student admissions from poorer backgrounds have declined at seven of the country’s prestigious Russell Group Universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. While this represents an issue for the higher education sector to address, it is important for students and educational organisations to realise that social mobility is not exclusively tied to university access.
Gareth Robinson, CEO of ABE, said: “University provides a fantastic opportunity for academic development for those who can access it, but this isn’t always a possibility for young people looking to define their futures. Instead, there are other routes for those at a financial or academic disadvantage, which can yield the same levels of professional success, financial gain and personal fulfilment.”
Vocational qualifications, including courses in business management and helping young entrepreneurs to start, grow and run their own business, provide a highly viable pathway to a successful career. In addition, these courses can go a long way towards addressing chronic skills shortages that permeate the UK employment market, by providing a blend of both academic tuition and real work experience, at a time when having a full range of skills is more crucial than ever.
Robinson added: “There is a vibrant, growing market for vocational business qualifications that provide young people with essential skills to ensure not just success in the workplace in a variety of disciplines, but also the ability to set up their own companies and become entrepreneurs. These carry a significant amount of weight, with higher levels being equivalent to a full bachelors degree, and present an affordable alternative for young people to bypass student debt and the congested university admissions process.” Robinson concluded: “The issues with university admissions are certainly something that need to be tackled in the long term, but the current situation should not be reason to panic about a lack of social mobility. The opportunities for advancement are there; it’s just a matter of bearing in mind that there might be better routes to success if the traditional paths are blocked.”
www.abeuk.com 4
www.education-today.co.uk
Top chefs inspire students as part of Visitor Economy Week
Top chefs Simon Rimmer, Aiden Byrne and Paul Askew met with City of Liverpool College students as part of Visitor Economy Week. Their visit was one of over 50 events being held across Liverpool to showcase the career opportunities for young people in the sector. Simon Rimmer, of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, Michelin star chef, Aiden Byrne, of Manchester House and Paul Askew, chef and owner at the Art School restaurant, talked about their insights into the industry and the pathways into a career in catering.
Visitor Economy Week was organised by the LEP, The City of Liverpool College and six other colleges across Merseyside. The visitor economy is rapidly expanding in
Liverpool; it currently supports over 49,000 jobs in the city but this is projected to increase to 55,000 jobs by 2020.
Events throughout the week were themed around key professions in the visitor economy such as hospitality, catering and tourism, with fun activities including cocktail making classes and chefs on bikes, a joint citybike, City of Liverpool College initiative where students accompanied leading chefs on a bike tour of Liverpool’s best eateries.
A sporting week at Hunter Hall School
Pupils from Hunter Hall School, in Penrith recently had some hands on experience of the sporting world recently as they attended two high profile events across the country.
On 12th February Hunter Hall’s Under 11 tag rugby team visited Kingston Park, in Newcastle, to watch Rugby Union’s Newcastle Falcons take on the Leicester Tigers. Newcastle won 24- 16. The children from Hunter Hall played during the half time break (on the first team pitch) putting on a feast of tries for the large crowd of more than 6,000 spectators. The community coach for Newcastle Falcons commented on their excellent skill and ability. Parents, children and grandparents thoroughly enjoyed this exciting evening of top class sport.
Earlier in the week, a truly phenomenal afternoon awaited 3 of Hunter Hall’s talented
Elaine Bowker, Principal of The City of Liverpool College said: “With a projected 6,000 new jobs being created by the visitor economy over the next four years, it’s vital that we ensure young people in the City Region benefit from the opportunities on offer. Not only this, we need to ensure we have the skills locally to support the continued growth of this vital sector. “Visitor Economy Week showcased the diverse opportunities and careers to be enjoyed in the sector, giving the next generation the chance to see what working in the industry is all about.”
www.liv-coll.ac.uk
gymnasts at the City of Manchester Gymnasium, who had an awe inspiring session with X- Commonwealth gold medallist John Smethurst. They worked their way around a range of apparatus including floor, beam, uneven parallel bars and vault.
According to head teacher Mrs Donna Vinsome “Sport plays a huge part in the curriculum at Hunter Hall School, alongside pupil’s academic studies. It is important to get the children moving, being part of a team and achieving goals. Visits, like those the children have attended this week are a great opportunity for them to learn more about sport and inspire them to be the best they can be.”
www.hunterhall.co.uk March 2016
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