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A LEVEL AND GCSE REFORMS
LEARNING INSTITUTE CLOSES
A vote was passed in July for the IfL to be taken over by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), with the transfer set to be completed by autumn. Triggered by fears that the IfL lacked funds to sustain itself in the long term, the 33,500-strong member organisation will pass its legacy and assets to ETF through a deed of gift. Membership had been in decline due to a necessary increase in fees, after government funding was withdrawn. The IfL's achievements include leading a successful campaign for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status to be legally recognised as equal to QTS for teaching in schools. The IfL has begun to close its operations, but will continue to offer normal member services until autumn. As yet, there is no precise timeline of the next application window for QTLS. Members who had renewed their membership are expected to become part of ETF.
F E T R U ST F O R L E A D E R S H I P
SHAPING THE SECTOR‘S FUTURE COMPARED to universities and schools, the FE sector is underresearched and misunderstood, believes new think tank and charity the Further Education Trust for Leadership (FETL). FETL is keen to support FE leaders’ innovative thinking and investigation into the role FE plays in society, but is aware FE leaders may struggle to find time and space alongside their role. As a result, it has announced the first round of its fellowships that will allow FE leaders to pursue a research interest away from their current position. They are looking for ambitious, bold and creative individuals who are passionate about FE, training and skills learning, and have a desire to research and write about an aspect of leadership that will ultimately benefit learners. Launched earlier in 2014, FETL aims to work with people in the sector to develop knowledge on FE leadership, including those from independent
training providers, community learning centres, employers, unions and colleges. It wants to help people shape the sector’s future by supporting leaders to have a better insight into the nature of FE. This, they believe, will raise the profile and understanding of the sector, while increasing media presence and encouraging policymakers to take notice. Applications are encouraged from those in all parts of the FE and skills sector, whether an independent training provider, community learning centre, employer or college, with a small number of grants of up to £50,000 available in this first round. Funding will cover the costs of a FETL fellow to take time away from their role to explore a research interest in the field of FE leadership. Applications close at midday on Friday 10 October. For further information, go to www.fetl.org.uk.
GCSE results in August showed an overall increase in students achieving A*-C grades. But ATL has voiced its concern for students over the move from modular GCSEs to those with end-ofcourse exams. Nansi Ellis, ATL’s assistant general secretary for policy, said: “We have serious concerns about the government’s plans for GCSEs from 2015. It has imposed too tight a timescale to implement such a large-scale reform of GCSEs, AS and A-levels at the same time and ensure these exams are fit for purpose.” A* awards at A-level rose again this year, but the government’s reform and reliance of testing through final exams has sparked concern. Nansi added: “We believe the current system, with AS-levels as the first half of an A-level, is better for the vast majority of students, and that's why ATL has joined the NUS campaign to reinstate AS as part of A-level.”
#NOVOTENOVOICE SCHOOLS COMPETITION WITH six million people in the UK currently eligible but not registered to vote at the 2015 General Election, the #NoVoteNoVoice campaign is calling on schools to help reach its target of one million new registered voters, in the
hope of bringing about a major change in British politics. School teams or individuals across England and Wales are being asked to use their creativity and resources to produce an exciting, creative billboard
advert that persuades people to register to vote. Entrants can extend their imagination to produce an advert that’s funny, quirky or serious, but which must meet the main aim of persuading eligible voters to register before May 2015.
4 ELM | OCTOBER 2014
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