Post-14 education shake-up call

Sir Adrian Webb made 139 recommendations in the report

Radical changes have been urged in the way post-14 education is delivered in Wales.

A review by Sir Adrian Webb, former vice-chancellor of the University of Glamorgan, into further education was released to the assembly government.

More than 100 recommendations to improve education and training offered to young people were outlined.

It highlighted a need to reduce the number of young people in neither education, employment nor training.

The report said education for those aged over 14 must undergo "radical" changes over the next five years if the basic skills gap was to be closed.

It also recommended more investment and greater budget efficiency in the current system, highlighting the problem of too many empty places in schools.

It also pointed out the need to eliminate the problem of people dropping out of learning, as well as the growing level of skill needed to satisfy employers.

We have yet to make real progress in very important areas such as the basic skills deficit Sir Adrian Webb

The Webb Review of Further Education has put forward 139 recommendations to improve the achievements of 450,000 post-14 learners in Wales.

Basic skills training was focused upon, with a recommendation for more tutors in this area, and the implementation of more vocational learning for 14-19-year-olds, as well as a 50% increase in apprenticeships offered over the next four years.

Other proposals included the creation of specialist colleges to "act as engines for the delivery of skills in their areas," and the setting up of a fund which would allow employers to buy specific training from colleges to satisfy their needs.

The year-long study into the sector said funds for adult and community education should be channelled towards the most disadvantaged people in Wales and that more opportunities to study in the Welsh language should be made.

"Overall, further education institutions are surpassing the government's targets for learner achievement and the quality of teaching," said Sir Adrian.

"However we have yet to make real progress in very important areas such as the basic skills deficit, limited choice for 14-19-year-old learners, young people 'not in education, employment or training' (known as 'neets'), engaging the most socially disadvantaged people in learning or realising the potential of our most talented people through effective science education.

"In implementing our report, the goal over a 10-year period must be to deliver the virtual elimination of the basic skills gaps and neets, meaningful qualifications or accredited skills for all learners and skills that will have contributed to the creation of an extra 150,000 jobs."

The assembly government asked Sir Adrian to examine the mission and purpose of further education, including the scrutiny of post-14 learning and employer responsiveness in his review.

Sir Adrian said choices made at 14 were "critical" to people's futures and it was at that stage pupils decided whether they felt comfortable with highly academic programmes, or more practical, vocational ones.

But he said there were also policies such as the Welsh baccalaureate that were proving successful and could be developed more strongly.