The Department for Children Schools and Families (previously called Department for Education and Skills [DfES]) has introduced a major programme of reform of the 14-19 curriculum to be implemented by 2013. This gives all young people 14-19 a national entitlement to study in a range of programmes developed through four main curriculum strands:
General qualifications, including GCSEs and A levels.
Diplomas in 14 vocational areas for 14-16 year olds and 17 for 16-19 year olds.
Apprenticeships and Young Apprenticeships.
Foundation Learning Tier - for students not yet at Level 2.
In addition, there is a strand of re-engagement activity for those young people not motivated to participate in mainstream provision which is individually tailored to their needs.
The aims of the programme are shown below.
"The 14-19 reforms will give all young people the opportunity to choose a mix of learning which motivates, interests and challenges them, and which gives them the knowledge, skills and attitude they need to succeed in education, work, and life.
We believe that every young person has potential and that the job of our education system is to develop that potential, so that all young people have opportunities through effort and application to qualify themselves for further learning and work.
The system of the future will be configured even more around the needs of young people: making sure that all young people are able to stay in learning post-16 and that as they do, more are able to achieve; that qualifications and curriculum become a progressively more engaging experience and valuable preparation; that we ensure that those qualifications are well taught and delivered; and that we make these new opportunities universally available to all young people.
In developing an educational experience that meets the needs of all young people we aim to improve opportunity year on year; so that each cohort of young people is offered more than the last. That means focusing as hard on raising achievement and participation now as on the longer term reforms of qualifications and curriculum that will provide new opportunities in the future."
The Department for Children Schools and Families is committed to developing a system of 14-19 education matching the best anywhere; a system where all young people have opportunities to learn in ways which motivate and engage them and through hard work to qualify themselves for success in life.
Further information on 14-19 Education and Skills can be found on the following website:
Doncaster is working through its 14-19 Partnership to develop provision for young people in all curriculum strands. The new curriculum requires schools to work in consortia to deliver many of the new qualifications, and in particular Diplomas. Many of these consortia are developing borough wide to ensure that the best facilities, teaching and opportunities are available to students.
Planning for the new curriculum is also a partnership based activity, with schools and their partners grouped into Learning Collaboratives. They take responsibility for planning and delivering the curriculum, with support from the Local Authority, and for ensuring that students in their area will have access to the full range of curriculum provision by 2013.
The 14-19 Partnership works through a Strategic Plan which is within the 11-19 Education Plan, and forms a key part of the Children and young People's Plan.
For details of the 14-19 Strategic Plan contact Alison Megahy on 01302 737249.
For details of the new 14-19 Curriculum please contact Kath Fitzpatrick on 01302 736743.
Building Schools for the Future (BSF)