14-19 Education and Skills

An overview of the entitlement for all young people aged 14-19

All young people will study as part of the new secondary curriculum:

Key Stage 4 core curriculum: English, maths and science.
Key Stage 4 foundation subjects: ICT, PE and Citizenship
Work-related learning and enterprise
Religious education
Sex, drug, alcohol and tobacco education and careers education.
A course in at least one of the arts; design and technology; the humanities; modern foreign languages and all four if they wish to.

Learning for young people will lead to qualification from one of four routes:

Apprenticeships - with an entitlement to a place by 2013 for all suitably qualified 16 year olds.
Diplomas - with an entitlement by 2013 for all 14-16 year olds to the first 14 Diplomas and for 16-18 year old to all 17 Diplomas.
Foundation Learning Tier - with an entitlement by 2010 to study one of the progression pathways.
General qualifications, for example, GCSEs and A Levels.

Young people will be able to study qualifications that do not fall under these four routes where there is a clear rationale to maintain them in learners' interests and some young people will study informal unaccredited provision to re-engage them.

Throughout the curriculum and qualifications routes there will be:

Functional skills in English, maths and ICT and personal, learning and thinking skills.

There will be the right support, including:

Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and support to make the right choices at 14 and 16.
A 14-19 Prospectus in every area setting out the courses and support available. Go to http://www.myplan4life.org/ and follow the link for the West of England's Futures4Me database.
A Common Application Process linked to the 14-19 Prospectus that will make it easier to apply for education and training.
The September Guarantee to ensure all 16 and 17 year olds have an offer of a suitable place in learning and targeted support to those who need it most.

Extract from - Delivering 14-19 Reform: Next Steps (Department for Children, Schools and Families).

Key websites:

14-19 Education and Skills (Department for Children, Schools and Families) - keep up to date with the reforms, improvements and plans for 14-19 education.