Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘The Learning Country’ (2001) set out a commitment to the transformation of 14-19 educational provision, with a goal to ensure that:
“95 per cent of young people by the age of 25 will be ready for high skilled employment or higher education by 2015.”
This Paving Document led to Learning Country:Learning Pathways 14-19 (2002) and, later, further guidance in Learning Pathways 14-19 (2004) and Learning Pathways 14-19 Guidance II (2006) including an Action Plan (2006-10) for taking forward the programme. In order to achieve this goal, WAG identified a number of perceived artificial barriers to curriculum entitlement, which needed to be broken down to meet the needs of learning in a new century:
- Between vocational and academic pathways
- Between schools and employers
- Between stages at which qualifications and exams are conventionally taken
- Between activities in school and out of school hours and
- Between providers themselves
A Learning Pathway will develop an entitlement for each learner through a balance of formal, non-formal and informal learning, wider choice, flexibility and a learning core, together with a blend of support to meet learners’ needs. Six key elements make up a Learning Pathway:
Learning Pathway
- Individual Learning Pathway
- Wider Choice and Flexibility
- The Learning Core
Support for Learners
- Learning Coach
- Personal Support
- Careers Advice and Guidance
The Learning & Skills (Wales) Measure (2008) underpins the 14-19 Learning Pathways policy and is integral to the WAG’s Skills that Work for Wales strategy that establishes a distinct Welsh agenda for education and training. The Measure is being delivered by 14-19 Local Area Networks, strategic partnerships setting strategic priorities.
For more information contact: Tim Opie