skills

Apprenticeships

explanation

In 2008, the Labour Government introduced Modern Apprenticeships based on frameworks that are now devised by Sector Skills Councils.

In 2009, the National Apprenticeship Service was founded to coordinates apprenticeships in England. Apprenticeships aimed to train young people in a specific sector of work, providing them directly with the skills they would need in the workplace, and include areas such as retail, tourism, funeral services as well as more traditional apprenticeships such as plumbing.

Raising the School Leaving Age- evidence

From September 2013 the education leaving age was raised to 17, and later amended in September 2015 to 18. These changes allow for becoming an apprentice or going to college are alternatives to school. This policy not only reduces the number of NEETS (Not in education, employment or training, but means all young people are gaining appropriate skills required by the economy for longer.

The aim has been to tailor the skills of school leavers to the needs of the economy and raise the level of expertise of the workforce.

evaluation

• Marxists Finn argued that the real function of training schemes like the youth training scheme (YTS) was to reduce youth unemployment and provide cheap labour for employers

• Feminist Skeggs argues vocational education is not just about creating class divisions but also gender divisions. Many new apprenticeships such as hairdressing and health & social care, are more likely to be low paid, low status jobs taken by women. This reaffirms gender roles within society today.