New Bank Holiday Would Benefit Business

Nearly one million UK businesses could benefit from a new bank holiday, according to a new TUC report out today (Friday). The TUC are calling for a ‘Community Day’ bank holiday in late October to celebrate and encourage volunteering and community activity.

The TUC report - Why the UK can afford a Community Day – says that many customer-facing businesses, such as those in the retail, hospitality, leisure, tourism and transport sectors, have stronger trading days on bank holidays and could benefit from a new public holiday. These sectors have grown over the last forty years and now account for nearly a million UK businesses – over one fifth of all UK businesses – according to the Government’s VAT registrations.

In sectors likely to benefit from a new bank holiday, consumer spending has grown from 31 per cent of household income in 1971 to 39 per cent in 2005. A new bank holiday will therefore help to continue this spending boom, says the TUC report.

The report says that, as well as encouraging people to go on holidays and short breaks, bank holidays lead to more ‘days out’, which bring in £90 billion worth of spending a year to the economy in England alone.

In addition to the revenue benefits of a new bank holiday, the TUC report argues that all employers would benefit from the improved productivity, morale, health and well-being that it would give staff. The TUC believes these benefits vastly outweigh the cost of an extra day off work.

After the August bank holiday, workers in the UK will have a four month wait for the next bank holiday on Christmas Day. The TUC, along with leading voluntary organisations, are calling for the Government to break this gap with a ‘Community Day’ in late October. Community Day would celebrate the great British tradition of volunteering and encourage people across the UK to take part in community activities.

The TUC estimates that if ten per cent of the population took an active role in Community Day, the ‘on the day’ effect of greater community activity would be worth £250 million. Furthermore, the TUC estimates that the longer term benefits of people taking up volunteering could double the day’s economic value to £500 million.

In order for a new bank holiday to be successful, the TUC believes that businesses, community groups and trade unions would need at least a year to prepare. So, even if the Government committed to a new Community Day today, the earliest it could realistically come into effect would be late 2010. According to the Bank of England’s most recent quarterly inflation report, the UK economy is expected to have recovered by this time and businesses would therefore be well placed to benefit from a new public holiday.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “A new bank holiday would be very popular for Britain’s workers, who have fewer public holidays than anyone else in Europe except Romania. But it could also bring in much needed revenue to around a million UK businesses.

“So far, business lobby groups have stuck to their usual position of opposing anything that benefits staff, including a new bank holiday. But we urge these organisations to think outside the box and recognise the benefits that a new bank holiday could bring to many of their members.”

Changes in Disability Law Affecting Exams

The Workplace Law Network has reported on minor changes to disability discrimination legislation affecting people who take exams.

The Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies)(Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features)(Amendment) Regulations 2008 are to be brought in on 24 October 2008, and say that:

“It is always a reasonable step for a general qualifications body to assess a disabled candidate in relation to the components of an examination taken by that candidate as if those components comprised the entire examination.”

These Regulations amend the 2007 Regulations, which stated that in order to prevent a provision, criterion or practice placing a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage, the granting of an exemption from one or more of the components of any examination or assessment shall be a step which it is always reasonable for a general qualifications body to have to take.

Exam System Fails Significant Proportion

One of AMiE’s partner organisations, ATL, has warned the government that the current GCSE exam system fails a significant proportion of school leavers.

Dr. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said: “ATL applauds those who have achieved their GCSE results this year, but needs to remind Government that GCSEs are part and parcel of a narrow subject-based curriculum that fails a significant proportion of the young people currently leaving school.

“We are not saying that achievement should be made easier or ‘dumbed down,’ or that aspirations should not be high. What ATL is saying is that the curriculum needs to provide a fully rounded education, not a test driven, exam based, target led system.

“Employers want soft skills such as initiative, creativity, punctuality, reliability and politeness. Universities require research skills, independent learning and innovative thinking. However, it is increasingly difficult for schools and colleges to deliver these skill sets in today’s overcrowded subject-based curriculum.

“The Government thinks it can say all these things should be included – but where? On whose timetable do we see the opportunity for young people to cover all of these skills and their subjects as well? Certainly, not on any current mainstream timetable today.

“ATL believes reform cannot come too soon for those who are being effectively dispossessed by the curriculum today.”

School Trip Injury Results in Fine

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned activity centres to ensure their staff are properly trained, after a child was seriously injured on a school trip.

Kingswood Learning and Leisure (Group) Limited of Alkmaar Way in Norwich, was fined £12,000 with £10,690 costs at Cromer Magistrates Court last week), after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The prosecution follows a HSE investigation into an incident on 28 April 2007, when eight-year-old Mickey Carter-Browne, from Silsoe, was injured during a school trip to the Kingswood Activity Centre at West Runton. He fell six metres from a climbing wall, sustaining a broken ankle and bruising to his pelvis, upper leg, left ankle and arms.

HSE Inspector Steve Gill said:

“This was an unfortunate incident which could have been prevented had the correct safety procedures been followed and the staff undertaking the activities properly trained and supervised. Instead, a child was injured and spent ten weeks in plaster, largely confined to a wheelchair, and another ten weeks on crutches.

“It is important to remember that the adventure activities sector as a whole has almost always demonstrated good practices in risk assessment and management, allowing activities to take place safely and enjoyably.

“HSE firmly believes that children must have the opportunity to participate in adventurous activities such as climbing, which are fun, healthy and provide experience and education in risk management. Statistically, one incident does not alter the good track record of an overall safe and well-managed sector.”

The incident occurred when Mickey reached a height of about six metres on the climbing wall. A click was heard and he fell onto the wooden floor below.

The HSE investigation identified that when the karabiner (metal loop) was attached to the harness, the screw had not been tightened, which allowed the karabiner to open when a load was applied. The investigation also found that the training and supervision procedures at the centre were not sufficient for the activities being carried out, and were not being routinely followed on the ground.

Older People Denied Access To Skills Training

Older people are being robbed of the chance to play an active part in society because they can’t access new skills through adult education according to leading older people’s charity Help the Aged. New research shows that two thirds of older people (64 per cent) are put off attending adult education courses because of the threat of crime when they go out(1), while four out of ten people aged 65 and over struggle due to lack of transport, high course fees and inadequate information about available courses.

A Help the Aged report, Learning for Living, warns that unless older people are able to further their skills and learn new ones, there is a danger that they will become more and more excluded from society. With their research showing that more than one third of older people saying they feel out of touch with modern life, the Charity is calling for all Government departments to recognise that older people need skills to play an active role in society and ensure these are made available to them.

Amy Swan, Policy Officer for Help the Aged, says: “Education and learning new skills are incredibly important for people of all ages, but all too often older people are left behind. Barriers such as lack of transport, fear of crime or high course fees make it very difficult for older people to access courses that will help them keep up to date with changes in modern life.”

The Help the Aged research also shows that:

• Three quarters of older people (73 per cent) want adult education courses to cover how to stay healthy and active as you get older;
• Six out of 10 people aged 65 and over (59 per cent) are interested in understanding new technology including the internet and digital television;
• Three fifths of older people (58 per cent) want courses giving financial advice and tips on managing money;
• Half of older people (49 per cent) are interested in learning about how the social care system works.

Amy Swan continues: “It’s not surprising that older people want to learn how to manage their finances, keep up with advancements in technology and how to stay fit and healthy as they get older – these are all skills that will help prevent them being brushed aside by society.“

Help the Aged is calling for:

• The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to put pressure on other government departments to recognise the skills older people need to prevent isolation and exclusion, for example financial literacy, ICT skills and health management;
• Public authorities to consider the impact of any proposed policy changes on older people – identifying if there is a need for skills and providing budget where necessary;
• DIUS to invest in an effective adult learning infrastructure; provide fully funded learning officers in every locality; a learning portal for information; and learning vouchers to support groups wanting to organise their own learning.

TUC Praise For A-Level Results

Commenting on yesterday’s A-level results, which showed a record pass rate of 97.2 per cent and a record rate of A grades at 25.9 per cent, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O Grady said: “These record results are a fitting testament to the hard graft that students and teachers have put in over the last two years.

“The predictable dismissal of these achievements from the usual suspects is not helpful. We need to support and encourage achievement, rather than giving young adults an early lesson in the British tradition of knocking success.

“We must also remember the one in four students who haven’t taken any examinations and have left our education system without any qualifications. The Government must continue its efforts to open up educational opportunity to all.

“Employers must also play their part in making our education reforms work. Rather than carping on about young people not being ‘job ready’, employers should be offering more and better work experiences places, and many more high quality Apprenticeships.”

Have You Registered?

As members are probably aware, following the introduction of government reforms in 2007, learning providers that deliver further education provision through a contract or funding agreement with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are required to ensure that all their trainers, tutors and teachers:

• register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) by 30 September 2008
• undertake at least 30 hours’ continuing professional development (CPD) each year (prorated for part-time trainers)
• abide by IfL’s Code of Professional Practice.

The reforms apply to learning providers operating in work-based, adult and community, offender and voluntary sector settings.

IfL will be hosting events for HR and staff development managers and senior leaders to understand the impact of the new regulations on their organisations, and the opportunities for staff development:

London: 2 September 2008
Birmingham: 3 September 2008
Leeds: 4 September 2008

For more details on these briefings, and to download a booking form, please see the Ifl website. To register as a member of the Institute please go to the IfL registration page.

Further Improvement in A Levels

Schools Minister Jim Knight welcomed news that increased numbers of pupils are passing A Levels, with rises in key subjects like sciences – and maths at its highest level in over a decade.

The latest A level results mean that there has been a 9.6 per cent percentage point rise in the pass rate at A Level since 1997 (from 87.6 per cent to 97.2 per cent), and a 18.2 percentage point rise in the proportion of A-C grades awarded (from 55.7 per cent to 73.9 per cent).

Compared to last year, the proportion achieving A-C grades at A Level has risen from from 72.8 per cent in 2007 to 73.9 per cent this year; and the proportion of A grades awarded at A Level from 25.3 per cent to 25.9 per cent.

Jim Knight, Minister for Schools and Learners, said: “I heartily congratulate all students who have successfully completed their A Levels and thank teachers for their hard work. This year’s results are a tremendous tribute to all the effort that has gone into achieving these qualifications by students, supported by parents and teachers. They also show a good return on a decade of record investment and policies which have encouraged more young people to continue and achieve in education.”

Unite Members Accept FE Pay Offer

Members of Unite (formerly the TGWU) have voted to accept the FE pay offer from the Association of Colleges. This means three of the six unions on the National Joint Forum in England have now agreed to accept the 3.2% rise, the others being our two AMiE partners, ACM and ATL. If as most people expect, Unison members also vote to accept the offer, then the AoC will be under pressure to recommend the pay rise regardless of the outcome of UCU’s consultation.

The Unite vote was overwhelming, with 72% voting in favour of accepting the offer.

Minister Comments on SATs

Schools Minister Jim Knight today congratulated pupils and teachers on their hard work in this year’s Key Stage 3 tests for 14-year-olds.

Commenting on the provisional national results published today, Mr Knight welcomed the rises in the proportion of young people reaching the expected levels in writing and maths – reversing last year’s falls and back up to their highest ever levels. He also welcomed improvements in the pupil results at the highest achievement levels, particularly maths.

But he said he was disappointed with the small fall in reading, which dropped two percentage points this year, after a rise in 2007, and science, which dropped two points after three years of increases. He said that although there had been a decade of overall steady improvement, the Government’s reforms need to deliver faster progress – through the new more flexible Key Stage 3 curriculum; through helping all children have a smoother transition from primary to secondary school; and through encouraging them to continue the reading habit into their teenage years.

Mr Knight said: “I congratulate pupils and teachers for all their hard work this year. Schools’ efforts mean that they are sustaining the significant improvements of the last decade – there are far fewer children below the expected level than 10 years ago and the brightest pupils are continuing to show good results, particularly in maths.

“Key Stage 3 is an important stepping stone to success at further study and life beyond the classroom. It is encouraging that most pupils are achieving at or above the expected standard for their age in all three subjects and almost a third are now achieving the highest levels in maths.

“But I am disappointed by the slight drops in English and science – reversing the rises of last year. We know there is more to do before all of our schools are truly world class and that every young person is reaching their full potential at age 14 and beyond.

“The reforms we set out in the Children’s Plan will accelerate the pace of improvement. We are giving schools the tools they need – massive investment in support for teachers; more support for children’s wider needs; and the new secondary curriculum starting next month, which will give them real flexibility over how they teach and the confidence to intervene earlier to give support to the right children, at the right time, in the right way.”