Further education colleges and A levels
Follow-up to an item from last series: The Learning and Skills Council issued a circular, Identifying and Managing Underperformance, to further education colleges, announcing that next year it is raising the bar from a current 50% pass rate to 75% for A Levels. We discussed what effect this will have on students, on the entry criteria and the future of A level courses at further education colleges.
Libby Purves interviews Thea Ferguson, lecturer at Huddersfield College, where next year’s provision of A levels has been drastically cut; and Bill Rammell, the Higher Education Minister, responds.
WIMPS (Where is my public servant?)
WIMPS is a multi-media initiative run by and for young people in Northern Ireland. The idea is to increase dialogue between young people and politicians – and to hear young people talking about what is important to them. WIMPS was recently selected as a finalist in the Education category of the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008.
Libby Purves talks to Paul Smyth: Director of Public Achievement, Northern Ireland’s leading youth-focused civic education organisation; and Sara Parker has been to meet Ben Preston and Nathan Shivers, two of the young people involved - to find out more about the project…..
RANSACKERS - an educational adventure for older people
This initiative is designed to encourage learning in the older section of the population. It is a unique study opportunity for over-50s who do not hold a university degree to undertake a 10-week term at a residential college. This summer they are offering one week ‘taster’ courses.
Angela Robson visited Northern College near Barnsley to meet a group of Ransackers who were halfway through their 10 weeks; and Libby Purves talks to June Kathchild, National Development Officer for Ransackers and Tony Carter (aged 81), an ex-Ransacker who has gone on to study for an MA.
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