The Department for Education (DfE) has begun taking action against schools failing their legal obligation to give training organisations the opportunity to speak to students about technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
Former education secretary Keith Baker, who is behind the so-called ‘Baker Clause’ requiring schools to introduce students to technical education, told Schools Week that officials have started visiting headteachers who are not abiding by the law. Ministers have within their power the ability to ‘instruct’ schools to comply.
The Baker Clause was implemented as an amendment to the Technical and Further Education Act, introduced at the start of 2018. It states that every school must allow training providers and colleges to speak with every student in years 8 to 13, so they become aware of the options should they choose to take a non-academic route.
Baker wrote to ministers after a Schools Week investigation carried out in January showed that the majority of England’s largest academy trusts were failing to comply with the requirements.
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According to Baker, a ‘senior DfE official’ recently travelled to Cumbria to meet with headteachers not allowing the Energy Cost University Technical College to speak with students. He predicts that more interventions will follow.
“Some schools postpone and are awkward, which is outrageous,” noted Baker, who added that DfE minister Lord Agnew is “prepared to instruct them to comply.”
Baker believes it would be a “very good idea” to allow Ofsted inspectors to “condemn” schools which are non-compliant in their inspection reports.
He objected to criticisms of his flagship UTCs programme from George Osborne and Michael Gove, and has invited the politicians to visit one of the institutions.
Both men have previously raised concerns over whether the current UTC model works, particularly with many failing to recruit students aged 14 and not faring well in Ofsted inspections. Yet, Baker says Ofsted’s approach does not suit these institutions.
“Ofsted takes no account of employability in inspections and that is a big test for us,” he said.
Baker hopes that the body’s new common inspection framework, due to be launched one and a half years from now, will recognise “the special nature of our offer” in UTCs.
He claims that UTCs are in fact on the rise, with recruitment across the board increasing by 20% last year. Moreover, there were 2,000 leavers in 2017 and only 23 NEETs. Baker welcomes the move by a number of UTCs to recruit pupils aged 13, one year earlier than usual.
If you’re looking for your first or next role in further education, search the FEjobs website today.
Source:
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-takes-action-to-force-schools-to-follow-the-baker-clause/