Duncan Yellowlees

https://lnkd.in/e4-2wv9r An interesting article on UK manufacturing – The current state of play

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It isn't always easy to describe what my BACP PSDF role entails, so here is an example of one of the many varied and complex projects I have had the good fortune to be involved in https://lnkd.in/e6zaRR26

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FOR THE NOSY DATA GEEKS! Inspired by today's #EPA2024 conference, I decided to get back to my usual nosy self and look at the published data on apprenticeships: NUMBER OF STANDARDS On the IfATE website, there are now 698 standards approved for delivery. Of those: - 79% are regulated by Ofqual (with a further 6% where the intended regulator is Ofqual) and 12% are regulated by the OfS - 67% were originally approved for delivery before 2020, 11% in 2020, 8% in 2022, 3% in 2022, 8% in 2023, and 2% so far in 2024 (many of these have had more recent revisions and version numbers - 54% are on version 1, 30% on version 1.1, 10% on version 1.2, 3% on version 1.3, 1% on version 1.4, and we even have some on version 1.5 or 1.6!) - 20% are level 2, 33% level 3, 16% level 4, 6% level 5, 15% level 6 and 9% level 7 - 12% are 12 months, 51% are 13 to 24 months, 22% are 25 to 36 months, and 14% are more than 36 months - 36% are spread across the funding bands of £2,500 to £9,000, 26% are spread across the funding bands of £10,000 to £15,000, 13% are spread across the funding bands of £16,000 to £20,000, and 24% are spread across the funding bands above £20,000 EpAOs PER STANDARD On the .gov website there is a spreadsheet you can view to examine EpAOs per standard. https://lnkd.in/e2byhKHb This spreadsheet is out of date (last updated by the ESFA in April), but it does show that: - 63 approved standards do not have an EpAO (9% of standards), 60% of which were approved before 2023 - please remember that this spreadsheet is dated April 2024 so things may have changed - 45% of approved standards have 1 EpAO - 11% of standards have 5 or more EpAOs NUMBER OF EpAOs Again on the same .gov website you can view the spreadsheet list of EpAOs. It is dated April 2024 and it shows that we have 282 EpAOs, of which 24% assess one standard, 10 assess 2 standards, 23% assess 3-5 standards, 18% assess 6-10 standards and 26% assess 11 of more standards. This same spreadsheet displays the organisation type, but this is quite unreliable - it shows that 30% are higher education institutions, 12% are professional bodies, and 18% are training providers. #endpointassessment

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Another fantastic IfATE (Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) Apprentice Panel Meeting. We had a session from Pete Milsom about what UCAS are doing for apprenticeships. A Q&A from the Department for Education around Green Apprenticeships. This was then topped off by a session from panel members Olivia Hullah and Lily O'Brien on the ‘fun’damentals of LinkedIn to help those on the panel utilise the full networking potential LinkedIn can bring. #Apprenticeships #SkillsForLife #IfATE #IfATEApprenticePanel #UCASApprenticeships

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Reflecting on what a fantastic day I had yesterday at The Animate2Educate Ultimate Coding Conference. I don't think there is better value for money CPD in the North East. There were so many positive takeaways based in computing that relate so much across all teaching and learning. It was fantastic to listen to and catch up with Martin Bailey, Julian S Wood, Carol Allen and Steve Bunce. Lots of food for thought and brilliant company. My biggest takeaway was how computing supports executive function, and how to ensure students have the correct tools by Carol Allen, especially using Goblin AI to support SEND. #extraordinaryeducation #transformativeeducation #transforminglives #edtech #pedtech #innovation ‪#AppleEDUchat ‬

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I've been mulling over this all week, not able to get this conversation with a young apprentice out of my mind and wanted to share. The consequences of maths failure is much more than declining PISA scores and opinion pieces in newspapers. Last week I met with a young apprentice who has functional mathematics skills, coupled with very low confidence in maths. For the last two years his employer has been paying him less than half the minimum wage. His experiences with school maths meant he knew something wasn’t right. His friends could afford things he couldn’t, but he didn’t trust his maths skills to get to the bottom of it and approach his employer about it. The consequences of not addressing mathematics in school with the same vigour we have applied to reading extends much further than the classroom is far too great. This is about our student’s lives and capacity to flourish and contribute as adults. The good news is that this apprentice has found a new employer who will not be taking advantage and further financially crippling him. But I don’t believe this is an isolated story. Our students who find maths difficult at school because we rush through the foundation skills and lack adequate Tier 3 intervention supports for them leave school without the necessary mathematics skills to live a fruitful life. This is unacceptable. It is so encouraging to see initial discussions happening with mathematics in the education space. We have updated syllabus documents, more teacher professional learning for mathematics, and research summaries being disseminated publicly about the evidence informed ways to teach mathematics. This is a great start. We still have much more to do in this space to bring everyone along and see genuine change for our students and ultimately our country. 

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Workplace skills are increasingly recognised as critical for success in personal and professional settings, whilst basic digital skills are now expected for most roles in order to navigate and work effectively in a digital society. Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are delivering training courses to people living in Worcestershire and in many cases are fully funded. (Funding available dpending on location) These courses are designed following specific feedback from local employers through the Worcestershire LSIP findings in which employers identified two large skills gaps that are both a need and a necessity in the workplace. ▪ IT skills for the Workplace: Participants will gain proficiency in computer navigation, basic functions, and the utilisation of fundamental office programmes, empowering them to enhance efficiency and foster professional development, including: Internet Safety and Security Exploring Microsoft packages (Teams, Excel, Word and Outlook). An introduction to social media ▪ Professional Skills for the Workplace Participants of this course will have the opportunity to learn more about building confidence and assertiveness in the workplace by identifying personal strengths and how to handle feedback. The course will also cover the fundamentals of communication, as well as demonstrate effective techniques and skills. You’ll also learn more about the importance of work ethic, professionalism and time management. It is appropriate not just for people entering the world of work but also for newly appointed or future line managers. To book and find out more information speak to Lauren Ashford at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, myself or Celia Felgate. Or: follow this link https://lnkd.in/egnr7k5Q which will enable you to book online and also find out more about Skillsboost funding available to support Worcestershire employees grow and develop. Helen Mulvenna

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Could this be the next big innovation in home heating? A collaborative effort between researchers at Scottish universities, the Glasgow City Council, and the West of Scotland Housing Association is trialling an electric wallpaper as an alternative to gas boilers to keep homes warm in Scotland without burning fossil fuels. How electric wallpaper can help?  Electric wallpaper is a thin surface powered by electricity. It consists of strips of copper and graphene and releases infrared radiation that can warm the house without releasing any emissions. Electricity for the wallpaper can be sourced from offshore wind farms, making it a clean heating source.  The wallpaper can be fixed to the ceiling without much hassle, and the place can start warming in about three minutes when initiated. More importantly, the warmth provided is free of combustion fumes, which typically deteriorate the air quality inside homes.  The researchers are monitoring the approach’s efficacy using internet-of-things (IoT) sensors and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled analytics. Feedback from tenants living in these properties was also sought on the comfort levels and has been positive, a press release said.  “Glasgow has about 70,000 tenement flats, so finding new solutions to more efficiently heating them is vital to reaching a net zero future,” said Ruairi Kelly, a Glasgow city councillor. “Innovative pilot projects such as this are vital when considering how best to help tackle the issues of energy costs and emissions in Glasgow’s homes.” 

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Busting myths about End Point Assessment (EPA) with Pearson! 🎓 Many believe that you're locked into using the same organisation for on-programme qualifications and EPA, but that's not the case. Pearson offers flexibility, allowing you to select us as your EPAO, even if you've used different qualifications during the programme. 🔓 For instance, on the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, Pearson can be your EPAO, regardless of which L3 Early Years Educator qualification you've chosen from the DfE's approved list. This flexibility ensures you can tailor your choices to best fit the needs of your learners. 🧒 Pearson is committed to providing a high-quality EPA service, supporting educators and learners throughout their journey with expert knowledge, resources, and services. This means you can concentrate on what's most important - guiding your learners to success. Discover more about how Pearson can enhance your EPA experience and support your educational goals ➡ https://lnkd.in/eA_fmvNF #Apprenticeship #EPA #EndPointAssessment #Qualifications

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"Please, not another system for our academics to learn..." This was the consistent message we heard from universities when we started developing Stackle. The logic was clear: 1. Academics already know how to use Speedgrader 2. Learning technology teams are stretched supporting multiple platforms 3. Training and support for new marking interfaces costs time and money 4. Canvas integration needs to be seamless, not just technical So we made a fundamental decision - instead of building our own marking interface, we would leverage the power of Canvas Speedgrader. Why? Because when an academic can mark a learning journal entry using tools they already know, they can focus on what matters - providing meaningful feedback to students. It's why we smile when we hear things like "Oh, it's just right there in Speedgrader!" during demos. Sometimes the best innovation isn't building something new - it's making what already works, work better. #CanvasLMS #HigherEd #EdTech

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Pearson Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology - Contextual challenges for summer 2025 certification were released on 1 June and you can access these in the link below alongside a handy support guide to guide your students unpack the challenges. Any questions, please get in touch!

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The ESFA have released their new Academies Chart of Accounts (ACoA) for 2024-25 Academic Year. https://lnkd.in/e5ChKu8W I have been making contact with our customers this week assisting them with the changes and rolling out the new codes ready to upload the new year's budgets. At Hoge 100 Business Systems Ltd we have excellent uptake of MATs/SATs adopting the ACoA or mapping their own structure to these codes to make submitting their AAR an absolute breeze by using our Portal app to upload their data. I have summarised the changes on the attached pdf which you may find useful to plan updating your own finance system (FMS). Please note there is currently an error in the published version (v7.0.0) where 760750 is incorrectly entered on the Change Control sheet instead of the correct new code 760680. There are 31 new codes, 12 will be retired and 39 others have had their mapping references or descriptions changed. If your AAR is still a long winded and spreadsheet heavy task you may want to think about how your FMS is helping rather than hindering you in this task and whether it might be time for a change?

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Education infrastructure in the UK is in dire need of attention. Dame Meg Hillier's warning sheds light on the alarming state of our schools. She claims: ·      Over 700,000 students are learning in schools in need of major rebuilding or refurbishment. ·      38% of school buildings have surpassed their initial design life. ·      The Department for Education lacks an understanding of safety risks like asbestos and RAAC, leaving students vulnerable. ·      £9.4bn is allocated for special educational needs, yet many children aren't receiving adequate support. ·      SEND children face a 'postcode lottery' in accessing education on par with their peers. ·      The DfE's failure to address the long-term impacts of RAAC and asbestos is concerning. ·      Despite a £4bn request, only £1.3bn was allocated for school rebuilding, with delays in awarding contracts. It's time for action to ensure every child has access to safe and supportive learning environments. #EducationCrisis #SchoolInfrastructure #SpecialEducation #InvestInEducation

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This document was updated this week and is my favourite breakdown of how apprenticeships actually work. If you’re in apprenticeship finance, operations, management, really any leadership role, this is a really well written explanation of how the funding formula and payment system works. I’ve always liked it and yet it’s really underused in cpd and provider internal training. A top tip, make sure all leaders understand it as it really does help both strategic planning (programme design) and explanations to employers. https://lnkd.in/eDnP3VFq

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I follow Fareport Training on LinkedIn, and this morning I noticed a new training offer from them. They are currently offering funded Skills training in Data Analysis and Project Management – both courses are available to Hampshire residents. Personally, I think it’s a great offer which might be of interest to some of my self-employed consultant/business owner connections, and or employers looking to develop their own and or their team’s capabilities?    My own (humble) opinion is that these courses will provide essential underpinning knowledge and skills for what is an increasingly data orientated workplace. Really useful for self-employed looking to gain an edge, and or any Hampshire employer looking to upskill their key people (Team Leaders, Managers, Administrators, HR, Finance, Quality, MIS, etc...) it’s a no brainer. For me, understanding what your data is telling you, is a key enabler for you and or your people. It helps you/them to identify issues, and also areas of success to double-down on, and that enables you and them to prioritise and focus on the right things and solve the right problem - first time. Providing your people the tools they need to contribute effectively can only improve business performance, morale, and retention – In my experience most people want to do a good job but all too often we miss out the step that enables them to succeed (training) – Short courses like these are ideal ‘enablers’ for those about to be promoted or maybe just taking on new responsibilities. Easy to weave into your people development strategy – e.g. you might set mandatory knowledge and skills required to be eligible to move to the next level of responsibility, pay scale, etc. Creating clear development pathways for your people is good for business. I think Hampshire County Council have got this spot on – most businesses including self-employed would benefit from the Data Analysis and Project Management courses that they are funding through Fareport Training!  (note that Fareport also Offer a Digital Marketing course which is not restricted just to Hampshire residents) Follow this link to see what's on offer https://lnkd.in/eFy5djQN  You might want to move quickly as there are limited funded places, and I think these might be snapped up quickly - as they say, if you snooze you lose.... Feel free to share/repost to your networks if you think yhey might be interested/benefit from this training... As an aside - these courses can also be provided on a commercial basis...

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