Welcome to the new look Policy Update from City College Norwich.  After a bit of a break this monthly briefing is back to provide an overview of the key developments in education and skills policies affecting our work, now and in the future.  All eyes are currently looking towards the Comprehensive Spending Review on Wednesday 20th October, which will allocate resources across all government departments for the four years from 2011/12 to 2014/15.  

College Principal Dick Palmer is taking every opportunity to talk to decision makers and make the case for colleges. In a recent article in the Eastern Daily Press, he highlighted the key role colleges have to play in supporting the economic recovery and said “Let’s put the scarce public purse where it's needed most in education - at the front line, investing in learning not supporting an unwieldy and unnecessary bureaucracy.”

If you have any questions or comments on this Policy Update please contact richard.steer@ccn.ac.uk. 

Browne Review of HE Funding

Lord Browne's long-awaited review of higher education and student finance, Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education, has recommended that more of the burden of funding higher education should lie with graduates rather than the state and that universities should be free to raise fees to fund increased investment in higher education.

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YPLA's Future Remains Uncertain

The Government's proposals for reforming public bodies, the so-called bonfire of the quangos, has signalled the end for 192 public bodies, indicated that a further 118 will be merged, and left the future of others still in doubt.  Significantly for the college, one of the organisations whose future remains “under consideration” is the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA).  The YPLA was established less than 6 months ago to support the delive

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Wolf Review of Vocational Education

Education Secretary Michael Gove has commissioned an independent review, led by Professor Alison Wolf, into the future of vocational education for 14-19 year olds.  In a letter setting out the remit of the review, which will lead to an interim report at the end of the year and a final report in the Spring, the Secretary of State asked Professor Wolf to "consider how we can improve vocational education for 14-19 year olds and thereby promote successful progression

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Labour's Shadow Cabinet Unveiled

Following the Labour Party elections for the Shadow Cabinet, Ed Miliband has now named his shadow cabinet.  Andy Burnham, former Culture and Health Secretary, takes on the post of Shadow Education Secretary (so will be Michael Gove's opposite number).  The Shadow Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary post has gone to former Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham.  Meanwhile Douglas Alexander takes on the role of Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary.

The full Shadow Cabinet is as follows:

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New National Minimum Wage for Apprentices

A new National Minimum Wage for apprentices came into effect from 1 October 2010. The wage will apply to all apprentices aged under 19; and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their Apprenticeship.  The Apprentice minimum wage is £2.50 per hour and applies to time working, plus time spent training that is part of the Apprenticeship.

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