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SCORE: Science Community Partnership Supporting Education
Topic: Education
Date: October 2006
Source: Royal Society
Overview:
Key players in the science community have become increasingly concerned
about a number of
long-term trends within science education and have set up a new partnership,
SCORE, to bring
collective action to bear on these trends.
Through collective action, the SCORE partnership aims to increase its
influence over the
direction of science education in the years to come, in particular over
teacher supply and
retention, curriculum development, assessment, delivery of support to
teachers and students,
and strategies for reaching all young people regardless of age, background,
level of
ability, gender, ethnic origin and geographical location.
SCORE is convened by the Royal Society and other founding partners are the
Institute of
Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, the
Biosciences
Federation, the Science Council and the Association for Science Education.
ETB linked activity:
The ETB is obviously concerned about the long-term trends within science
education.
Science education is one of the key feeders for the engineering profession.
The ETB is therefore working closely with the Royal Academy of Engineering
on the Technology
and Engineering in Schools Strategy (TESS). This partnership also includes
SETNET and the
regional science learning centres, the Engineering Institutions Education
Alliance (EEA),
and the G15 group of engineering professional bodies.
The TESS mission is to give every primary and secondary school in the UK
equal access to a
good number of quality-approved, high impact, coordinated schemes in
engineering and
technology related education.
Further information:
To find out more on SCORE visit the
Royal Society.
To find out more on TESS visit the
Royal Academy of Engineering.
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Report: The STEM Programme Report
Topic: Education & Skills
Date: October 2006
Source: DfES
Overview:
The Department for Education and Skills have published a new report: The
Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Programme Report. This report
assesses the
extent to which the current STEM initiatives could be rationalised and
improved -
particularly those which fall into the categories of professional
development for staff and
enhancement activities for learners.
Key recommendations include:
• A Ministerial High Level Steering Group to set the direction of the
national STEM
strategy.
• A new high level STEM Strategy Group (SSG) to join up policy through
all phases of
STEM education across the DfES, the DTI, other Government Departments and
external
stakeholders.
• A STEM Advisory Forum to ensure members of the wider STEM community
can contribute
their views and advice on policy formulation.
ETB linked activity:
The ETB were involved in the original STEM Mapping Review undertaken by
the DfES, from which
this report originates. The STEM mapping review was initiated in mid
February 2003 to try
and answer questions around the provision of STEM initiatives. Data was
gathered on local
and national initiatives across England and assembled into the tables which
form the bulk of
the 5-volume Review.
The ETB will now form part of the proposed STEM Advisory Forum, announced in
the STEM
Programme report. We look forward to working closely with the partner
organisations in
ensuring that current STEM initiatives are fit for purpose. We need to
increase the STEM
supply for the UK to be globally competitive and a world leader in cutting
edge science,
engineering and technology.
Further information:
Copies of the DfES report can be found on their
website.
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Report: Energy Institute Skills Survey
Topic: Skills
Date: September 2006
Source: Energy Institute
Overview:
The Energy Institute (EI) has published the findings of their recent
survey on energy skills
and highlights a number of skills gaps. The purpose of this research was to
establish the
scope of the problem and the level of awareness amongst energy companies.
The key findings of this research show:
• 70% of respondents believe that the industry would not have
sufficient leadership
talent to meet the challenges ahead
• a steadily decreasing pool of new entrants to the labour market
• an accompanying decline in the scientific, engineering and technical
(SET) skills of
these new entrants
• increasing competition from other industries for these skills
• decreasing numbers of SET graduates choosing to enter a SET career
• rapid strides towards large scale retirement year on year
• lack of experienced hires for key roles in an expanding industry
ETB linked activity:
The timing of this survey coincides with the publication of the Stern
report into the
economic costs of climate change. The study, led by Sir Nicholas Stern, a
former World Bank
economist, is a stark warning to world leaders that the climate change issue
cannot be
stalled by claiming economic competitiveness will be damaged by taking
action now.
Engineering and technology can provide the solutions to many of these
challenges; it is
therefore vital that we ensure the UK has a world-class workforce capable of
leading in this
area. The report highlights that the shift to a low-carbon economy will also
bring huge
opportunities for the UK. Markets for low-carbon technologies could be worth
at least
$500bn, and perhaps much more, by 2050 if the world acts on the scale
required.
Further information:
For finding of the EI survey see their
website.
The Stern Report can be found on the Treasury
website.
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Priorities for Success: 2007 to 2008 8 LSC funding priorities
Topic: Skills
Date: September 2006
Source: Learning and Skills Council
Overview:
Almost exactly a year ago the LSC set out its funding policy for 2006/7
and 2007/8 in a
Paper entitled Priorities for Success. Many of these proposals are still in
place but there
have been some adjustments for the coming year.
• Planned LSC expenditure will increase by £17m to allow for an
additional 12,000
places in FE and 6,000 in school sixth forms. FE will also be encouraged to
work with
schools to offer a broader curriculum.
• Level 3 entitlement for 19 – 25 year olds. As announced in Budget
2006, £25m will be
made available for this, benefiting some 45,000 learners.
• Apprenticeships for Adults. £16.7m will be set aside for this and
further expansion
is likely following the Spending review. Employer contributions for 19+
Apprenticeships will
increase to 50% by 2010/11.
ETB linked activity:
The ETB is pleased to see these readjustments in LSC funding priorities,
especially the
commitment to encouraging a more open market in FE and a broader curriculum
in schools,
colleges and training organisations, so that they can provide more choice
tailored around
the needs of individuals and businesses.
This will be of increasing importance with the advent of the national
diplomas. Local
partnerships who are interested in offering diplomas from September 2008 are
currently going
through a Gateway which will assess their readiness to deliver – working
with their local
LSC and Local Authority to ensure the partnerships between schools, colleges
and businesses
are ready for the diploma launch.
The ETB is involved in supporting this activity and are looking closely at
projects to
support employer engagement in work related learning.
Further information:
The report can be downloaded from the Institute of Ideas
website.
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