Future-Talent.com

Future-Talent.com has just published its Alternatives To University guide for 2014.  It contains lots of helpful information about pathways at 16+ and 18+ into education and training and also a wide range of case studies for reference.  If you want to, you can also use the website as a gateway to applying for any one of the huge range of training and Apprenticeship courses listed or simply browse. It's worth a look just to see what's out there ...

Dropping out of uni ...

Official figures show that 6.7% of students failed to complete the first year of their degree, however, at 18 universities the figure is at least 1 in 10. It is estimated that 18.5% will fail to complete their course, after dropping out, transferring to another university or graduating with an alternative qualification.  The highest drop-out rate was at the University of the West of Scotland, where 19.4 per cent of students failed to complete their first year.  In England, the worst was London Met, where 15.5% dropped out, followed by 12.5% at City, 12.4% at London South Bank, 11.9% at Middlesex and 11.7% at Bolton University.  

[ source GTAssociates.org ]

University or an Apprenticeship?

Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has said that he wants teenagers to put universities and Apprenticeships on an equal footing when deciding future career paths.  To encourage this, the government has pledged £190m to support degree-level and postgraduate Apprenticeships in subjects like Engineering and Construction.  The announcement was welcomed by the general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, who said, “Apprenticeships have the potential to be this country’s success story".

Is ABB enough for university?

Although the Government has increased the number of students universities can recruit by 30,000, some universities have had their allocation ( the number they are allowed to recruit who do not have ABB or above ) cut because they did not reach their targets last year. Leeds has had its allocation cut by 4.2%, Bath by 4.2% and Surrey by 4.1%.  Most of the other losers were new universities, with Kingston cut by 3.2%, UEL 3.1%, Liverpool Hope 3.1% and Staffordshire 3%. Leeds, Bath and Surrey did not meet their allocation because they were reluctant to admit many students who did not attain ABB or above.  [ source GTAssociates.org ]

Get Creative!

Did you know that the UK creative industries account for £71bn a year, or 5.2% of GDP, and have grown by 19% since 2010?  Three of the four most successful global movie franchises, Harry Potter, James Bond and Lord of the Rings, are British, whilst recent UK films include the blockbuster 'Gravity'.  Our music stars, such as Adele and One Direction ( love them or loathe them! ), have topped world charts for six of the last seven years, whilst our TV formats such as X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing are worldwide hits.  In addition, as a nation, we spend nearly twice as much per person on-line as Americans, and our super-fast broadband penetration is ahead of all other major EU countries.

Maybe you can "get a piece of that" ...

Careers World magazine

The Summer edition of Careers World magazine is available in the School Library.  It has features on how Apprenticeships are changing, studying in America and how to navigate the UCAS Clearing process.  It also has in-depth articles on the careers areas of: Engineering, Retail, Health & Social Care, Construction and Sport & Fitness. They give you all the details you need, including entry pathways and, most importantly, how much you can expect to earn!

If you can't get to the Library, visit the website www.careersworld.co.uk

Apprenticeship opportunities

The school regularly receives information from local and national companies about Apprenticeships they are offering.  Below are some recent examples but keep checking back for new opportunities ...

• Willows Forge ( www.willowsforge.co.uk ), based in London Colney, are looking for a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration in partnership with Oaklands College.  Contact me at school for more details.
• AECOM, a local engineering firm, ( www.aecom.com ) is offering an Apprenticeship as a Sustainability Trainee for a school leaver at 16 or 18.  For more details, click here.
• DGS Chartered Financial Planners ( www.dgsifa.com ) has recently launched a Trainee Financial Adviser Apprenticeship Scheme and has a number of places at their St Albans office.  This is in association with Bromley College of Higher Education and is based on the following framework - Advanced Apprenticeship in Providing Financial Services (Level 3).  They are looking for bright business/maths/science students who may not feel university is the right path and who would like a career in the financial services industry. The Apprenticeship is for 18 months and DGS is looking to take the apprentices on permanently after the scheme. Click here for more information.

There's more to Apprenticeships than spanners and hair-straighteners!

Most people are waking up to the "earn as you learn" opportunities available through Apprenticeships but many still think they're aimed just at Hair & Beauty or Construction-based careers.  Well, they're wrong!  For example the BBC is offering 45 local Apprenticeships in its radio stations across the UK as part of Director-General Tony Hall's pledge to open up the BBC to people from a wide range of backgrounds. Applications opened this month and successful candidates will start their jobs in September, working as Apprentice Broadcast Assistants (England, Channel Islands) and Apprentice Content Assistants (Wales, Scotland and N Ireland).  For more information, click here.  

What's more, world-wide you can find Apprenticeships in fields such as Tasting Dog Food, Trimming Cow Hooves, Milking Snakes and being a Pet Detective! [Source: TCHC Training].  For more local Apprenticeship opportunities, visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeship Event at Marlborough School 29th April 2014

On April 29th, Marlborough School is hosting an Apprenticeship Event on behalf of Hertfordshire Local Authority for parents, carers and students across St Albans from 6.30 – 8.00 p.m. 

For further information about this event and booking details, click here.