Education

CBI Chief calls for GCSEs to be scrapped

Published

11 years ago

July 7, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Scrap GCSEs, CBI chief suggests.

CBI HEAD, John Cridland, has called for controversial plans to scrap GCSEs in the next five years. He wants them replaced with an equal exam system for vocational subjects. He has accused the current system as ‘narrow’ and ‘out of date’. In a speech at the annual Festival of Education at Wellington college he said: “By the end of this parliament, I want to see the date for the last GCSEs circled in the secretary of state’s diary. We have to face the uncomfortable truth that – internationally – we’re the oddballs. GCSEs are past their sell-by date and should be retired.” He went on to say that the UK Government needs to review, in full, all 14-18 education by summer 2016. Also calling for a wider school system he went on to say: “Debates about schools structure and exam reform are sterile if they aren’t linked to outcomes for young people. And that is a missing link in our system.” He finished by stating that businesses should play a bigger part in establishing links between school and employment, saying: “Schools shouldn’t be places where businesspeople drop their kids at the beginning of the day like they drop off their dry-cleaning.” In response, Dr Philip Dixon, Director of ATL Cymru, said: “John Cridland is to be commended for bringing centre stage what a number of other organisations having been saying for some time. GCSEs belong to a world where the majority of youngsters left school at 16. As the vast majority now stay on in education or training these high stakes – and high cost – exams are no longer necessary. Other means can be found to ensure that youngsters chose the right next step for them. It is also good to see the CBI insisting that vocational qualifications should be as valued as academic ones though the change in mentality is fundamental. It will be interesting to see how the Welsh Government considers Cridland’s calls now that we no longer have to imitate what is done across the border.” Angela Burns, Shadow Welsh Assembly Education Secretary, stated: “Whilst I agree that we must have equal status for vocational subjects we also need to ensure that all our examinations, whether vocational or academic, are internationally recognised, robust and relevant. That would serve students, further and higher education and employers far better than an arbitrary deadline. We must ensure there is a clear and evidence based way forward that enhances the exam system and enables it to be developed to keep pace with the global economy.” Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Education Minister Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said: “The Party of Wales agrees with him about the importance of outcomes for pupils whatever education system they are in, the need to shift to valuing both academic and vocational routes of learning and a way of a boosting innovation by head teachers. The CBI chief is right that there is a need for curriculum reform in England not just exam reform. Unlike England we have seen a blueprint for curriculum reform in the Donaldson report. These CBI comments back Plaid Cymru’s position on the new Qualifications Wales Bill. The purpose of the Qualifications Wales Bill passed last week is to ensure confidence in the qualifications system, and this is something that the Party of Wales has worked to maintain throughout the development of the bill. We have worked to ensure that Wales’ new qualifications body will ensure that employers, the public and universities have confidence in the qualifications system, and to ensure that qualifications gained in Wales are internationally respected.”

Cymraeg

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welsh-speaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.

The report will be officially launched at the Welsh Language Commissioner’s stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey at 11:00am on Monday (May 25).

Education

£1,500 cash bursary announced for aspiring local youngsters

Published

5 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

FOLLOWING its previous success, Ceredigion Youth Service is fortunate to accept another opportunity provided by West Wales Holiday Cottages to support young people with a cash bursary this year.

The purpose of the bursary is to provide young people aged between 11 and 25 with the chance to receive £1,500 to help with their future aspirations. The successful applicant(s) will be chosen by Ceredigion Youth Forum, which is a panel made up of young people from Ceredigion.

Gwion Bowen, Senior Support Officer Participation, said: “We are very grateful to West Wales Holiday Cottages for providing us with this opportunity for young people in Ceredigion for the ninth year in succession. Like ourselves, West Wales Holiday Cottages recognise that many young people living in Ceredigion may experience difficulties in accessing training, support and social activities due to socio-economic issues. The bursary was extremely successful last year, with a young person gaining financial support to help them with their mobile beauty start up business.”

Councillor Wyn Thomas, Cabinet for Schools and Lifelong Learning, said: “I would like to encourage anyone aged between 11 and 25 who needs financial support to reach their goals to consider this fantastic opportunity. As with previous years, I hope that the bursary is a success again this year, and that it will benefit young people in Ceredigion.”

Lisa Stopher, Managing Director at West Wales Holiday Cottages said, “West Wales Holiday Cottages are delighted to be supporting the bursary once again in partnership with Ceredigion Youth Service. We recognise that many young people can face barriers when accessing opportunities, training and resources, and we hope this bursary will continue to make a positive difference by giving young people the support they need to pursue their goals and aspirations.”

Do you need financial support to reach your goals? Would you benefit from having financial support to help you with training or equipment that is required for your chosen vocation? Are you looking for support to start your own enterprise? Are you a member of a community group and looking for financial support to purchase resources or equipment?

The closing date for applications is midnight on 19 July 2026. If you’re interested, contact Gwion Bowen on 07790 812939 or e-mail [email protected] for an application form.

Education

Ashmole & Co fund future accountants with financial donation to primary school

Published

5 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

CARMARTHENSHIRE’S would-be mathematicians are being given a major boost in their careers thanks to an Ashmole & Co donation to Ysgol Llandybie Primary School.

The donation, funded by the company’s Ammanford office, will help with the annual purchase of the online MyMaths resource which uses the online resource to help pupils and parents with the teaching of maths at home as well as allowing teachers to set tasks and provide them with tutorials to show them the mathematical concepts being taught.
The programme can assist in all areas of mathematics from shape to space, and from data to financial literacy.

Laura Craddock, Partner in Ashmole & Co’s Ammanford office, said, “We are always keen
to offer our support locally. We are more than happy to help fund the online resource
MyMaths to help train the local accountants of the future from a young age.”

Llandybie Primary School Head Teacher, Rhian Pritchard, said, “We are keen to continue
using online resources to enhance our pupils’ learning experience but they come at an extra
cost. We are grateful to Ashmole and Co for the donation which will enable us to continue
the provision of online maths learning.”