Education is currently under review by the Coalition Government. It is expected that there will be a new Education Act which will make changes to the way education is funded and developed. Some of the changes proposed by the previous government will stay others will be amended or removed.

Why changes to 14 to 19 education are needed
The global economy is changing. If Britain is to compete in world markets our young people need to be equipped with the skills industry needs.

Some young people haven't been achieving their full potential, and leave education without the basic skills needed to enter work.

The latest research shows that around half of all students who take their GCSEs get fewer than five at grade C or above.

Foundation Learning
Foundation Learning covers all learning between the ages of 14 and 19 at Level 1 (equivalent to GCSEs at grades D-G) and below.

All students are required to study qualifications in a vocational subject, personal, social development and Functional Skills in ICT, Maths and English. As all the qualifications are broken down into small units it is possible for students to work towards qualifications at their own pace. It also allows each student to have a programme tailored to their skills and interests.

Even students working at the lowest levels can gain qualifications which are recorded on a central database. This allows them to progress to either higher levels, larger qualifications or different subject areas as they move through key stages.

Diplomas
A new range of qualifications called Diplomas are now available.

Diplomas can be studied at three levels Foundation (equivalent to 5 GCSEs grades D-G), Higher (equivalent to 6 GCSEs grades A-C), Advanced (equivalent to 3.5 A levels). Each Diploma consists of Principal and Additional and/or Specialist learning. All students will be required to complete the Principal study modules. These include English, Maths and ICT which must be passed to achieve the Diploma. Students can then personalise their Diploma by adding additional qualifications such as a GCSE or BTEC.

Diplomas are available in Construction and the Built Environment, Creative and Media, Society Health and Development, Engineering, Information Technology, Society, Health and Development, Business, Administration and Finance, Environmental and Land-based Studies, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality, Manufacturing and Product Design, Public Services, Retail, Sport and Leisure, Travel and Tourism although not all are available for study in Hackney, many are available in our neighbouring boroughs.

The aim of these new qualifications is to equip young people with the skills they need for today's economy and to allow them to personalise their learning to suit their particular skills. Employers have had a key role in the creation of the Diplomas which ensures they develop skills which are relevant to today's employers. Universities and educational professionals have worked together to create a good mix of interesting and stimulating academic and vocational study modules to help develop the key skills of independent learning and thinking skills required for the Diplomas.

These qualifications are under review as part of the Coalition Government's review of vocational education.

Raising the Participation Age
The previous government raised the participation age which means that from 2015 young people are required to participate in education or training until their 18th birthday through either:

• full-time education or training, including school, college and home education;
• work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship, including traditional contracts of apprenticeship;
or

• part-time education or training, if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering more than 20 hours a week.

The coalition government might make some changes but are not expected to remove the requirement to participate until the age of 18.