Work-related and Work-based Learning

Nationally agreed definitions from the Aimhigher Guidance notes

Work-based learning

WBL involves significant elements of work-based assessment, may involve attending courses in FE or HE, is focused on the needs of the employer and employee, is for people in employment, and can be at all National Qualification Framework and HE levels. Qualifications include NVQs, professional body qualifications, and foundation degrees. E.G. Modern Apprenticeship programmes, some of which require significant college attendance for the technical certificate but the NVQ is obtained through work-based assessment.

Work-related or vocational provision

This is largely taught in FECs or HEIs and may involve a period of work or professional experience. Qualifications include vocational GCSEs, vocational A-levels, BTEC certificates and diplomas, some foundation degrees, and vocational degrees. Part-time learners may be in work but the typical learner is 16-19 years-old and studying full-time in school or college before progressing to employment or higher education.

Aimhigher Southwest vocational, work-related and workbased learning activities

AHSW Work-Based / Work-Related Learning Practitioner’s Group

Terms of Reference

To promote awareness of the progress and achievements of Aimhigher WBL initiatives.
To enable WBL Practitioners in the Aimhigher South West Region to:
(1) identify opportunities to further develop work-based learning widening participation practice, including ways to embed good practice.
(2) identify common problems and share potential solutions.
To identify and share good practice in WBL from sources external to Aimhigher SW.
To identify ‘frequently asked questions’ relating to work-based learning and to share possible answers.
To explore the lessons relating to WBL being learned in the Aimhigher SW Areas and their transferability within the Region.
To generate and communicate case studies of good practice in WBL within the Region and externally.
To provide a regional forum in which current priorities for WBL activity can be commented on and new priorities discussed.
To lobby in the Region on behalf of WBL/WRL

Previous Meetings of the Practitioners' Group

Notes from the meeting of March 2006

South West Training Providers Network (powerpoint slideshow)

Notes from the meeting of November 2005

Current Aimhigher Southwest vocational and WBL related activity

West 5: Pathways: reaching workplace and community learners

LIFE 2a Vocational Progression Pathways - Creative Industries

LIFE 2b Work Based and Curriculum Pathways in Engineering

Peninsula 7: Workhigher 2006-2008

Peninsula 5: Community outreach programme

The Regional and Area Healthcare Strand

Previous activity

2003 - 2006 Peninsula Strand: Workhigher

Workhigher: Increasing Advanced Apprenticeship Progression into HE - Bridging the Gap Report by Pete Watton pwatton@plymouth.ac.uk

2003-2006 Aimhigher West strand Pathways, Workplace and Community

Facilitating Vocational Progression Pathways
Community Arts, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Media.

Reports and Consultations

Practical Strategies for Learning and Teaching on Vocational programmes Ian Duckett and Marilyn Tatarkowski, LSDA

Securing strategic leadership for the learning and skills sector in England National Audit Office Report

Apprenticeships Task Force Final Report

The Business Case for Apprenticeships

National Employers Skills Survey 2004

Key Findings of the Survey

Published July 2005, having interviewed 27,000 employers.

14 - 19 Education and Skills - The White Paper

14 - 19 Education and Skills Implementation Plan

TUC Response to the White Paper

Skills: Getting on in Business, Getting on at Work - March 2005

(Government response to the Tomlinson Report)

Report of a Survey to follow up Foundation Degree Reviews

Quality Assurance Agency 2002-03.

A work-related curriculum for 16 to 19 year olds

LSDA consulation document (2005) by Duckett and Moore.

Getting on in Business, Getting on at Work DfES Skills White Paper

National Centre for Social Research A Qualitative Study of Motivations, Experiences and Outcomes

Evaluation of the 2nd Year of the 14-19 Pathfinder Initiative
DfES report on progress made by the 39 pathfinders.

A Summary of the Evaluation

Apprenticeships, WBL and Progression to HE
Summary of a report: by Hale Consulting - July 2004.

Evaluation of Modern Apprenticeships and National Traineeships in Wales 2003

Online News

The Building Pathways project in South Yorkshire has produced a interactive multi-media CDRom promoting progression opportunities for Apprentices, especially those in Engineering and Construction. They would like to share the CD to obtain feedback on its content and how it might be used with Apprentices. If you would like a copy of it, go to their website and complete the order form.

Review of the Future Role of FE Colleges

The governments plans for Further Education

Involvement Annex 1 of a summary for practitioners of some of the key issues arising out of the Aimhigher planning process.