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Latest News - Page 13
Tuesday 8th December, 2009
More Work Experience Training for Employers
By Admin
Members of the Sussex Learner Forum were invited to help deliver another East Sussex County Council (ESCC) training session, where employees expecting a work placement student can learn from other young people's experiences.
During the session forum members had the opportunity to make a presentation about EDGE, lead discussions around positive and negative experiences of work placements and explore solutions to different scenarios devised by the forum members. All participants were then given two copies each of the Sussex Forum's two sided poster, which aims to share both young people's and employers' expectations of each other on a work placement.
It was the second time that the Sussex Forum had been part of the training, and they hope to contribute to further sessions held by the ESCC next year.
One participant said of the session; "It's very useful, it gives us a chance to meet other people that have been on it and done work experience recently, so it's a good chance for us to reflect and to think about the new placement and to consolidate what you already know"
Thursday 3rd December, 2009
Doncaster Edge film
By Admin
New Doncaster Film available Now.....
Wednesday 11th November, 2009
A Question of Employment
By Admin
Members of the Edge Learner Forum (ELF) hosted a version of Question Time on November 3rd. No fascists or dubiously arranged audiences were on show for this one. The focus of the event held at the BBC Television centre was the now infamous matter of youth employability. How can young people improve their prospects in the job market with little or no previous experience in certain sectors?
The panellists for the niche event were Iain Wright MP for 14-19 reform, representatives from Tesco and Bovis, Jeremy Moore senior civil servant, Debbie Scott from Tomorrow’s People, Paul Preston ELF representative and Mike Jones.
The conversation was compelling and the enthusiasm displayed on the night did not wither. Early in the event ELF member Roxanne asked “What initiatives are the government undertaking to help more young people into work.” Ian Wright replied by stating that the raising of the participation age would hone the skills of young people and he went on to say “We’re putting in funding to guarantee young people a place at college.” Speaking on a significant initiative that is of paramount benefit Wright stated “I would single out rising the participation age.”
This answer from the MP did not address current youth unemployment but instead acted as an attempt to reassure people that future graduates of the education system will have good prospects.
“When people write to me asking for jobs I always look for their passion. If that flows through people will notice.” Iain Wright said of applications to him. Wright went on to say how he supports vocational qualifications being held in higher regard then they are currently and stated that “Ed Balls is trying to make sure everyone gets personalised tradition.” I’ll believe that when I see it.
“Display the qualities they want to see,” Gabriella the representative of Tesco said, stating a rather known fact. ELF member Abdul asked her later “What do you think, if someone has a criminal record, but perfect otherwise, would you employ them?”
Gabriella replied by stating that Tesco didn’t discriminate and her answer was concise. Val Lowman of Bovis gave an uplifting answer to the same question. She told how she had taken on someone with a criminal record and has watched that person morph themselves into a positive role model for others. “If you didn’t have a great start, it’s about showing who you are.” This view on previous offenders is a positive sentiment to have and giving someone a chance to show their credentials should always be applicable.
Paul Preston when asked whether employers should explore technology in more diverse ways said the likes of Tesco may look at the possibility of applicants “sending applications through You Tube.”
This would empower applicants with a platform to express themselves more freely. Shy people would feel less daunted without sitting inches away from a potential boss. Any form of application that is better than many current online application routes that achieve little except for totally dehumanising and demoralising peoples hopes should be trialled before condemned as unorthodox or unpractical.
The event succeeded in giving ELF members a unique opportunity to quiz people that can make a difference. However in spite of this rare event common mantras manifested themselves in the forms of be “proactive,” “keep banging on the door,” “make yourself a nuisance,” for what feels like forty fourth trillionth time.
To balance employability widespread discussion must take place and schemes need to be created that will significantly improve the application process.
Written by Adam McDermont
Tuesday 27th October, 2009
James Hill Chef & Restaurant Owner
By Admin
We interview James Hill, one of the new breed of chef and restaurant owner; read more . . .
Tuesday 27th October, 2009
James Hill
By Admin
We interview James Hill, one of the new breed of chef and restaurant owner; read more . . .
Thursday 15th October, 2009
Youth Commission Solutions Event.
By Admin
On Thursday 13th of October at County Hall, Westminster the Youth Commission Solutions Event took place to carry on the work we have done on Raising the Participation Age. To open proceedings Edge Learner Forum (ELF) members presented ideas both for and against the planned legislation. The youth commission is a movement geared towards inspiring the minds of young people and showcasing their views in regards to education. 14-19 minister Iain Wright attended the event as did DCSF select committee chair Barry Sheerman.
Young people and policy makers chew the fat at the latest Youth Commission event I personally feel the public have been let down information wise in regards to the raising of the participation age. No detailed outlay has been presented from the government to the broader public and they have yet to justify the undemocratic legislations practicalities. This makes judgement of the movement hard. After the initial curtain raiser the participants of the event were grouped into separate tables. On my table were ex-Unilever Paul Preston, the MP for Warrington Helen Southworth, an Ofsted officer named Melanie Hunt, Edge members and ELF participants. The discussion covered a range of issues: the status of vocational qualifications, a prospective framework where young people can judge educational institutions, general teaching methods, apprenticeships and EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance). Focal points of conjecture were the status of vocational qualifications. Their importance is imperative as their structuring offers students the platform to learn in a manner that befits their talents and doesn’t condemn their skills to the regimented curricular route. It has to be said the GCSE and A-level exams are poor. This is mainly due the horridly predictable annual record breaking pass rates. An overhaul of the way students are taught would bring back prestige to curricular exams. On the flipside however many vocational exams lack distinction and are available in abundance. If vocational qualifications were consciously distinct from one another in standing then their value will be vastly illumed. Overall the need for vocational exams to be treated in much higher regard was widely expressed. The importance of inspections to monitor schools progress is palpable but an alternate method has been tried. ELF members earthed a scheme titled Edge Instead. This scheme offers a view from a pupil’s perspective and slips inside the minds eye of the young. To her credit, Ofsted official Melanie Hunt said that they now encourage students to post feedback on their website. Prospective “sampling” style apprenticeships were suggested for 11-14 year olds. This initiative would offer insight into the pupils’ passions and ambitions. In this country emphasis is not placed nearly enough on the career route early enough. This idea may inspire students and ignite the will of the disengaged. Like so many things in Britain education is riddled with bureaucratic balderdash. Paul Preston in particular expressed disappointment at this and said that a teacher being burdened with such matters is a waste of resources. I agree. The discussion soon led to EMA one member of the table argued that EMA should only be allotted to the deprived, this is wrong for the following reasons. To define deprived leads to untold levels of conjecture, especially with something as black and white as getting or not getting EMA. 
Blood, sweat and orange juice: who said reforming education was easy?
People should be given equality regardless of their background. To exclude a student from a reasonable home is senseless and will create boundless resentment and hostility. People will get annoyed. People will get mad. Violence may start. And such a move would vehemently bombard manure in the face of fairness.
I believe EMA should increase on a yearly basis. Its amount should at least try to counteract the lure of quick-fix employment that is easier short term, though not presently. Every pupil unless extremely wealthy should get treated the same as their counterparts, full stop.
Access to information was also conversed in regards to Universities. It was widely accepted that they must do more to promote and publicise the exact requirements needed to enrol with them, many young people are unaware.
As a whole the event was a success, organised and presented well. Iain Wright’s endorsement can only accentuate the initiatives publicity.
ELF will act on the solutions of the event and publicise the necessary careers advice and labour market information. Above all ELF will strive to raise the importance of vocational qualifications and make known the various and diverse routes to success.
by Adam McDermott