EDUCATION UPDATE
Libby is joined byÌýMike Baker, ex-´óÏó´«Ã½ education correspondent, who writes fo the Guardian and for ´óÏó´«Ã½ online.. heÌýgives a round up of current education stories.
VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND 14-19 DIPLOMAS
Discussion about vocational qualifications and the new 14-19 Diplomas to be introduced in September 2008, and whether this route of education is as valid as the more academic route.
Libby Purves discusses the issues with: Kevin Finnigan, Principal of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College; Professor Matthew Harrison, Director of Engineering Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering; and Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North West.
TEENAGE ADVENTURES / EXPEDITIONS
During the summer holidays two charities - The British Schools Exploring Society and My Generation - united to help send two teenagers from Ladbroke Grove in London, along with a main group of 35 other youths on a life changing five-week expedition. The trip was a combination of physical challenges, scientific fieldwork and conservation in Madagascar’s remote wilderness environments.
Libby speaks to Gesi Ibrahim who went to the trip, and Neil Laughton, Chairman of Office Projects and a keen adventurer,Ìýwho voluntarily prepared the boys from Ladbroke Grove before they set off.
This week Cape Farewell launches an Arctic Youth Expedition - students from the UK, Germany and Canada will head off to the Arctic on an exciting expedition as part of the Cape Farewell science, art and media project focusing on climate change. Libby speaks to Liam who is one of the students taking part.
THE SUTTON TRUST/WIDENING ACCESS
The last few years the government has been trying to increase the numbers of poorer students going to top universities – with very little success. Oxford, Cambridge and others have been at pains to change their elitist image, but many students from state schools still believe that the posher universities are not for them and the numbers of students applying from the state sectorÌýis still relatively low.
The Sutton Trust has a particular emphasis on recognising the needs and raising the aspirations of the academically able. ResearchÌýshows that there are some 3,000 students who have the A levels to attend the top universities, but end up elsewhere.ÌýÌý Libby discusses the research withÌýSir Peter Lampl.
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