1. The Reach of Further and Higher Education
Katie Wray (Newcastle University)
& Sue Poole (Gower College, Swansea)

2. There are many challenges, the one we have picked today arises from the growth in activity at Primary, Secondary, Further and Higher Education. Today we are giving information from our experience and research, and posing questions and challenge for you to take away. 1
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3. The importance of entrepreneurship has been a prominent concept discussed throughout the Youth Employment Convention. It appears that there is a new urgency for entrepreneurial skills to be filtered through the education system as there is concern that without this intervention, young people will be disengaged from the economic future.
To gain insight into this idea we need to understand why entrepreneurship is important in the first place. Entrepreneurship is a key driver of our economy as a high majority of jobs are created by and through with what started as a small idea. By integrating entrepreneurship in the education system, young people can build the confidence to see value in their own ideas. They can then make enterprising choices that are transferable into the workplace.
According to Dick Palmer, Group Chief Executive of TEN group, a growing federation transforming education in Norfolk, entrepreneur skills enhance an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action, to be innovative and take initiative. It is not only about showing young people how to create a business and make money but about creating a wealth of skills, inclusivity and furthering young people’s lives and opportunities.
Evidently, however, a big debate surrounding the inclusivity of entrepreneurial skills in academia is that our economy has changed and seemingly our education system has not. Is entrepreneurship the new pathway for success? For Honour Wilson-Fletcher MBE, Chief Executive of the Aldridge Foundation, it is. The notion that “anything is possible” seems more attainable with the skills acquired through entrepreneurship. Creativity, passion, team work, risk taking, determination and problem solving are not only transferable skills into workplaces but can positively impact education.
In a country that needs to increase work prospects for young people and future generations, this debate poses the question, is education weighing us down? From the discussion at the YEC it is apparent that the UK education system needs to address the idea that entrepreneurship may be the future and therefore need to find a balance. 2
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4. Instead, our entire education system from primary school through college seems so focused on teaching skills that will be automated in the future. The jobs that are growing the most are those that require high social skills as well as analytical skills, according to David Deming, an associate professor of education and economics at Harvard University.
Jeff Selingo 3
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5. Passport and roadmap - competency4
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6. Donaldson recommendations for the new Welsh Curriculum from September 2016.5
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7. The purpose of primary education6
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8. young-enterprise.org.uk 7
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9. Primary example 8
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10. The purpose of secondary education9
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11. 10
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12. Secondary example – real-life briefs11
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13. The purpose of FE 12
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14. Welsh Baccalaureate now compulsory from 2018 for Secondary Schools and Further Education Colleges.
The revised and more rigorous Welsh Baccalaureate is based on a Skills Challenge Certificate, which will be graded, and Supporting Qualifications. The primary aim is to enable learners to develop and demonstrate an understanding of and proficiency in essential and employability skills: Communication, Numeracy, Digital Literacy, Planning and Organisation, Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Personal Effectiveness. 13
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15. FE example
– Entrepreneurship Academy
Students can start their own business with support given by partners such as Chamber of Commerce, local entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Wales to help every step of the way
Be taught by tutors with real life business experience who have been there and done it
Receive funding from entrepreneurs who wish to help the next generation. 14
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16. The purpose of HE 15
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17. Self-Management
 Self awareness and reflection – recognise and understand personal strengths, skills and development areas, in order to self-improve.
 Planning and organising – consider the best way to achieve your goals, setting deadlines and scheduling resources.
 Goal setting and action planning – break an overall objective down into smaller tasks and work out how much time and resource will be needed to complete each part.
 Decision making – consider the pros and cons of different options (solutions or opportunities) and make a conscious choice based on research and reasoning.
 Personal enterprise – seek out and take advantage of opportunities to improve yourself and your situation.
Newcastle University Graduate Skills Framework
 Innovation and creativity – generate a new idea, design, or way of approaching a task.
 Initiative – instigate actions to make progress on a task, without being prompted by others.
 Independence – work without supervision or input from others, using self-motivation to achieve goals.
 Adaptability – respond readily to changing situations and priorities.
 Problem-solving – critically evaluate and analyse complex situations and tasks. Identify key issues for action and consider implications, in order to create appropriate solutions.
 Budgeting – consider income and expenses to estimate, forecast and plan.
 Commercial acumen – understand how an organisation works, in order to recognise opportunities and make good decisions.
 Market awareness – understand the needs of individuals, business and the community in relation to a particular sector, or product.
 Governance awareness – understand how an organisation operates and how it is regulated.
 Financial awareness – understand how money and other assets are used to run an organisation and develop an idea.
 Business planning – develop an idea through different stages to find out if it is commercially viable. 16
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18. HE Example 17
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