Policy, theory and practice in initial teacher education in England has a long history of turbulence. This paper reflects upon this history and examines those key aspects of initial teacher education which have shaped past, present and future developments. Following a brief historical overview of key developments in the field, the issue of where…

This report investigates the career paths taken by apprentices after they complete their training, and the extent to which their apprenticeships has been influential in their future success. The project investigated what careers apprenticeship training secures access to; whether the method and quality of the learning experience in apprenticeships;…

The results reported in this document are from a large scale survey of employers, apprentices, Local Learning and Skills Councils (LLSCs), and providers carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) between June 2005 and March 2006, which explored their views and experiences of the use and impact of training allowances.…

This article presents an analysis of gender identity within the context of lifelong learning. Constructed specifically around individual experiences of occupational apprenticeship in English professional football, it draws on a re-reading of data collected in the early 1990s to depict the way in which a group of young men were socialised into…

The research project investigated participation and achievement in apprenticeships by young people from minority ethnic groups across a number of regions and occupational sectors. It sought views on the value and status of apprenticeship, and factors influencing take-up, retention and achievement, and how this may be improved. The project…

This article focuses on some of the key issues that need to be addressed by 2010 if MLPS in England is going to work. The aims of MLPS need defining as educational, not instrumental; the KS1/2 experience has to be enjoyable and rewarding: an apprenticeship in learning how to learn a language, providing the tools for later learning and raising…

This paper aims to report findings from a UK study funded by the Equal Opportunities Commission to explore gender segregation in apprenticeships in five strongly segregated sectors construction, plumbing, engineering, information technology all strongly male-dominated, and child care female-dominated. The aim of the research was to consider the…

This article examines the impact of gender and "race" on young people's perceptions of the educational and labour market opportunities available to them after they complete their compulsory schooling in England. Its findings are based on a study of the views of girls and boys about the government-supported "Apprenticeships"…

Purpose: This paper will examine the two year modern apprenticeship undertaken by trainees in the English professional football industry. Design/methodology/approach: Representatives of seven clubs were interviewed in the summer of 2005; all of them were responsible for youth development in their club. These interviews were the first of what will…

Analysis of Modern Apprenticeships (n=2,222) in Devon and Cornwall was conducted in four industries: engineering manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. Apprenticeship appeared to be a feasible vocational alternative to full-time education, attracting high-quality students. Trainers and career counselors played a crucial role in…

In France's highly defined educational hierarchy, apprenticeship ranks low and is rejected by the academically successful. In England, educational pathways are less clearly ranked, and apprenticeships are desirable. Reflecting these differences, English craft apprentices scored higher on mathematics tests and showed less occupational variability…

Purpose - This paper seeks to present the Apprenticeships Task Forces ATFs evaluation of the business case for recruiting and training apprentices. The focus is on whether they provide employers in the UK with a positive return on investment in key performance areas. Design/methodology/approach - The ATF asked nine members, senior executives of…

Examines recent changes, and the motives behind them, in teacher education in England and Wales. Recent years have seen a move toward reducing the role of higher education and creating school-based systems of training reminiscent of apprenticeships. Motives behind this reform trend appear to be primarily political. (SLD)

In general the trade-school situation in Europe may be summed up very briefly. In France we find the all-day trade school in its highest development, with special schools established for both boys and girls. The aim of these schools is to intensify the idea of artistic expression as well as to improve mechanical construction and efficiency in…

Discusses the government role in school-to-work (STW) in England and Wales, youth unemployment and the labor market, effects of deregulation, current research on STW, and the introduction of modern apprenticeship, in which formal training in further education colleges is combined with apprenticeship. (SK)