Spotlight article
In this month's spotlight we hear about how schools and businesses are working together to develop hospitality and catering opportunities for KS4 students.

14-19 update - autumn 2007
The autumn 2007 14-19 update is now available, including a review of the 14-19 conference.

Learning visit to Barcelona
This video shows exactly what can be achieved and how students can be inspired by a day trip to Barcelona. Example letters and resources are provided to help in trip preparation.

Quality standards for IAG
The government has published a document detailing quality standards for young people's information, advice and guidance. The standards are available on the Every child matters website.

Making it! DVD
The resource will be sent to all schools offering GCSE Manufacturing. Video highlights and resources are available now.

Study visit to Italy
Read about last year's vocational study visit to Italy. To find out about European study visits see the international pages.

Vocational specialism ...
choices, chances and collaboration in practice - the handbook for those interested in or working towards vocational specialism.

Mutally supportive specialisms
Read how one school has successfully combined arts and vocational specialisms to enhance opportunities for all.

14-19 conference presentations
Presentations from the 14-19 conference 2007 are available for downloading.

Lead practitioners for 2007/2008
Find out who the lead practitioners are in your subject area for 2007 / 2008.

Information, advice and guidance
New section containing six case studies looking at innovative ways to incorporate IAG into the school day.

Diploma support programme
Practitioner training and support programmes are reaching the implementation stage. Find out what this will mean to you as a practitioner preparing to deliver Diplomas.

Diploma awarding bodies announced
QCA have confirmed the awarding bodies that will be offering Diploma provision for the first five lines of learning from September 2008. Further details available on the QCA website.

14-19 update - Spring 2007
This terms update includes articles the SSAT 14-19 support team, the 14-19 conference, raising achievement, Barcelona international learning visit, and more.
Previous issues

South Holland schools celebrate gateway success
The South Holland cluster are celebrating the success in their gateway bid for the first five diploma lines of learning.

Results of Diploma Gateway applications announced
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) would like to extend congratulations to all those consortia now confirmed as the first to be delivering the first five Diplomas from September 2008.

Diploma development on track
The DfES has confirmed, on 12 March 2007, that the Diploma development programme is on track and the benefits it will bring.

14-19 update - Spring 2007
This terms update includes articles on health and social care programmes, ten tips for developing vocational provision, functional skills update, competitions, events and seminars.

Vocational specialism learning visits
Read more about the learning visits organised and made by the vocational specialism lead practitioners.

 

2006

Second cohort of vocational schools announced
The second cohort of 56 vocational specialist schools has now been confirmed by the DfES. These schools will begin to receive funding from April 2007 but have already begun planning for life as a vocational specialist school.

 

Vocational leadership - need some ideas
Our lead practitioners are giving a series of free workshops to support schools developing vocational leadership and applied learning.

 

Industry links: where do I start?
Learning visits are now being organised by the applied learning lead practitioners. Art & design and ICT are now available with other subjects coming soon.

 

Mary Glasgow 14-19 Prize
Are you doing something new with languages in the 14-19 sector? You could be eligible for a £5000 Mary Glasgow 14-19 Prize.

 

Support programme for specialised Diplomas
SSAT, together with QIA, will be developing a programme to support the implementation of the new Diplomas.

 

Vocational Update - autumn 2006 (pdf)
The autumn edition of Vocational Update is now available. Read about the impact of introducing vocational courses and make a note of important dates for the diary.
Previous issues

 

Vocational Advantage
Apply now to be part of phase 2 of the Vocational Advantage initiative.

 

Adding up to a lifetime
This free resource, supported by Prudential plc, has been distributed to all schools. Closing date for the competition launched at the same time is 13 October 2006.

 

Extended Project (Level 3) Consultation
QCA are now consulting on the Extended Project and would welcome input from schools. This survey has now closed.

 

Diploma development events
Download presentations from the events

 

Schools’ Enterprise Education Network (S'EEN)
S'EEN is a new national all-school network for enterprise, funded by the DfES, to provide support and CPD for all secondary schools in England.

 

High Performing Specialist Schools We expect that redesignating schools who meet the High Performing Criteria will be notified by the DfES in early May. For further information please see the DfES website.

 

14-19 Implementation Plan
DfES document which sets out in detail how 14-19 Education and Skills will be implemented.

 

Creating sustainable European partnerships
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is coordinating a European project supporting schools in developing best practice in vocational education and training.

 

Vocational specialism: choices, chances and collaboration in practice
This guide for vocational coordinators and subject leaders gives examples of good practice.

 

Good equal opportunities practice at KS4
Leaflet outlining how to open up choices and offer young people support and encouragement to consider different career paths. Leaflet by Institute of Employment Studies, endorsed by DfES.

 

The specialised diploma gateway process
All schools planning to offer any of the first five diplomas from September 2008 will need to pass through a Gateway process. It is expected that they will need to work as part of a collaborative local partnership with other schools, colleges and organisations to be able to deliver the Diplomas. The Gateway process will enable the DfES to identify which providers are ready to deliver these diplomas and ensure they have access to any support required.

Information on the Gateway process is available from the DfES website and this explains how the process will work.

 

First cohort of vocational schools confirmed - 16 January 2006
The first cohort of 46 trailblazing vocational specialist schools has now been confirmed. Vocational innovation and excellence will be celebrated and championed by these schools as well as the Trust.