Unlock skills to spark business growth
By Suzan McGladdery (pictured), Director of Business Development at Barnsley College.
GCSE and apprenticeship reforms and the introduction of T Levels, do you really understand the changes and the impact they could have on your business?
A
GCSE reforms The GCSE reforms in 2015 were intended to drive improvements to help students compete for jobs on a global platform and have the knowledge and skills they need to progress to higher level qualifications or employment. The structure of the qualification changed to focus on two years of linear study rather than being divided into different modules, and pupils now take all of their exams at the end of their course. Alongside this a new grading structure was
s an employer, you know the importance of having a skilled and qualified workforce and the benefits this can bring to your business, but with the recent
individual grade the student achieved for the occupational specialism, details of the work placement and grades for the English and maths qualifications. The first 54 providers who will be delivering T Levels
‘Education is changing
from 2020 were announced in May 2018. There are eight providers from the Yorkshire and East Midlands region, including Barnsley College and Derby College, among the list to deliver T Levels.
and it is crucial employers
understand what this means for them’
introduced using numbers instead of letters. The new structure grades results from 1 to 9 rather than A* to G, so that employers can see the highest performing students easily, using a new grade 4 as a benchmark for a pass. All subjects have now been reformed and 2019 is the first year when all GCSEs will be graded using this structure.
Moving from classrooms to the workplace 2020 sees more change within the education sector, with the introduction of T Levels and a greater emphasis placed on industry work placements. Designed in conjunction with employers, T Levels combine classroom theory, practical learning and a three-month industry placement and aim to give young people the technical skills, knowledge and experience needed to get a job in a skilled profession. T Levels, a new two-year technical study programme designed as a vocational alternative to A Levels for 16-19 year olds, will be based on the same standards as apprenticeships and they will be awarded an overall grade of either a pass, merit or distinction. The certificate will then be broken down so the employer can see the
Apprenticeships Apprenticeship frameworks are being phased out and replaced with new apprenticeship standards, which are built around employers’ needs and focus on knowledge and skills rather than qualifications. This was followed by the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in
April 2017. The levy, a tax for businesses with a wage bill of £3m or above, changed the way apprenticeships
were funded and how training providers were paid. From Saturday 6 April 2019, the funds in the
apprenticeship levy will begin to expire, so there’s never been a better time for employers to utilise the funds to upskill new or existing members of staff. Training providers within the region can offer support to employers to help them understand the apprenticeship reforms, the levy and register for the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) so these funds aren’t lost. With hundreds of apprenticeships available in all industry
sectors, and more apprenticeship standards being developed at higher and degree level, we are confident there is a programme that would enable at least one employee in every business to develop possibly up to degree level while maximising the opportunity to gain practical, on-the-job skills and experience. Education is changing and it is crucial employers
understand what this means for them. As more focus is placed on young people becoming prepared for employment, gaining on-the-job experience will be vital to ensure they are ready for the world of work.
Winter 2019 CHAMBERconnect 59
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