Professor Richard Griffin MBE’s Post

For our the young people in our schools, learning is constant. They've spent a long time in school, with little control over what they learn. Then, in year 9 they get to start making those decisions. They get to choose what they want to learn. They choose their GCSE options. It can be a hugely daunting time. Suddenly the end of their time at school is in sight. Suddenly they have to think about what they might want to do in the future. Do their chosen subjects compliment each other? Where can those subjects take them? What do they do after? There are so many things they have to consider. Are they going to college? T-level or a btec? Are they going to 6th form? What about an apprenticeship? Maybe a traineeship? We have the ability to influence and aid in those decisions. As teachers. As parents. As peers. As mentors. As providers. It is our job to help them onto their next steps. It is our job to help them achieve their goals and dreams. And that is something I'm very proud to be a part of.

Have you heard about Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs for early childhood education yet? Check out the webinar series from the Council for Professional Recognition to learn more.

The votes are coming in quick for SXSW PanelPicker® and CKF team members need your support. This site is the official online ballot box where the public has a say in which content will be featured at next year’s SXSW EDU gathering in Austin, Texas. Team members from CKF have been included in multiple session ideas and need your votes to ensure these sessions are part of the final programming, including: • Scaling Teacher Apprenticeships: 4 Years of Data And Learning. For the last four years, Reach University has been helping K-12 schools districts tackle their recruiting and retention challenges. As the country’s first teacher apprenticeship program, how did the organization do it? Reach University leaders and their funding partners at CKF will share four years of inputs, outputs, and learnings about how to scale teacher apprenticeship programs. The panel would feature our own Kenzi Staab , as well as experts from Reach University . Vote for this panel here: https://lnkd.in/gRX8CbSZ

Thanks, Isabelle, for sharing these great stats on how the online apprenticeship toolbox is being used. When we first developed the toolbox, we were working with colleagues from the ministries in DK (lead partner), AT, Lux, and CH, as well as your team at the BiBB. Our goal was to support decision-makers across Europe who wanted to reform their country's VET system and introduce dual training elements. We never imagined it would get such a great response! Of course being read is not being implemented.  However, If you're interested, you can access a wide range of different strategy elements, products and instruments in the field of dual VET. This will help you identify suitable strategies for implementing your own work-based learning schemes. This joint approach means that all partners can learn from one another, including those countries with an existing dual training system. It might surprise readers to learn that the dual apprenticeship model in our countries varies quite a bit. So it's great that we're learning from each other. It would be fantastic if we could incorporate these efforts into the PISA initiative to improve VET provision.

Flicking through the QAR data there were 34 apprenticeship providers with a minimum of 100 starts in 22/23 that also had a retention rate of 30% or less. I do wonder if I’m reading that right (and I’m risking the wrath of the data bods out there) as it’s a bit damning. Rather than dwell on it let’s focus on what can be done about it. I wonder if they’re shortcutting things so came up with a few ideas: - Improve screening: more thorough checks of the learner’s qualifications, experience, or suitability for the program. - More guidance: provide more information about the course, its demands, or future prospects. - Slow down enrolment: take the pressure off the learner and make sure that they fully understand the commitment. - Offer more support: pay more attention to looking after learners (lower caseload or change the org structure to support). - Personalise the approach: Consider further the individual’s learning needs and wider circumstances. What else do you think helps? Have you seen what bad retention looks like up close? Interested in to hear of peoples experiences.

The new Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (FAST) program, available to Grade 11 and 12 students, will help to create a more inclusive education system. It tells students who may question their intelligence and skill level in a traditional classroom setting that hands-on and experiential learning is not only an option but just as important. This can help boost student confidence and graduation rates, better inform career choices, and address labour shortages. Students can have the opportunity to kickstart their careers in highly sought-after and well-compensated fields or, at minimum, gain valuable life skills to use in their everyday lives. More on the announcement: https://lnkd.in/g6GntzRu

Teaching assistants, are you looking to enhance your skills in supporting small groups within a classroom setting? Check out Best Practice Network's article, packed with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed! 🌟 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/ePr3JEMf] 💡 For further tips on supporting classroom learning, we recommend our Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship programme!

🎓 As GCSE Results Day approaches, we know your students might feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. KentChoices is here to help you in guiding them through this important time. ✨ Visit the dedicated GCSE Results Day page to find... 👇 📍 Steps for students if their grades are unexpected 🔍 Alternative options and pathways 📞 Support and advice resources From contacting schools and colleges to exploring courses and apprenticeships, we've got all the information you and your students need! 🔗 https://ow.ly/EeJU50SJoIm

📚 Dive into our latest "Effective Strategies for Teaching Assistants" series! 🍎 Our first post explores nurturing small groups in the classroom 👩🏫 Unlock insights like these and more through our TA Level 3 Apprenticeship 🎓 Read the full article here: 👉 https://ow.ly/BsZx50QpZ14 #TeachingAssistants #EducationJourney #ProfessionalDevelopment

🗳 Get those voting muscles ready! As K-12 districts continue to face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, nearly every state has embraced teacher apprenticeship programs. But what outcomes can a K-12 district, institution of higher ed, and state agency expect? And what key learnings and best practices can be applied to scaling your inclusive, on-the-job teacher training? Reach University and Charles Koch Foundation are ready to pull back the curtain to share the data and playbook behind four years of deploying #ApprenticeshipDegrees to thousands of adult learners across hundreds of rural and underserved districts in nearly a dozen states. We need your help to bring this panel to life! Cast your SXSW EDU ballot to learn: 🍎 Affordability: Without DOL federal funding, how can you launch a debt-free and low-cost teacher apprenticeship program at scale? 🍎 Employer-Based Partnerships: How to make the apprenticeship work for the employer and apprentice? What are the data-driven benchmarks of success? 🍎 Credit for Work: How to scale the teacher apprenticeship within the rails of traditional accreditation? 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gRX8CbSZ #TeacherApprenticeships #TeacherShortageSolutions #Job2Degree #HigherEd #K12