Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at an interview that Minister Anne Milton provided to the Times about degree apprenticeships and Minister Nick Gibb’s visit with the Duchess of Cambridge to launch a new mental health websites for schools.
Degree Apprenticeships
On Wednesday, 24 January, the Times published an positive interview with Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships Anne Milton. In the interview the Minister outlines the importance of parents considering anapprenticeship as an alternative to university for their children.
The Minister highlights the merits of apprenticeships, including pointing to high profile employers including the civil service, Marks&Spencer and the accountancy firm PwC that are offering higher and degree apprenticeships programmes where apprentices gain work experience while they study. She also urges companies to ensure that A level students can access information about the apprenticeship options available. To coincide with this interview, the Times published a supplement about apprenticeships, which includes an interview with 23 year-old Alex Hills who, after completing his A levels, is now undertaking an apprenticeship with bespoke Savile Row tailors Dege&Skinner.
Mental Health in Schools
On Tuesday, 23 January, Minister for School Standards Nick Gibb accompanied the Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to a primary school in Brent that has launched a new mental health website. Mentally Health Schools will offer advice and guidance for teachers on dealing with mental health issues in the classroom. This was covered by the Daily Mail, Independent, Daily Telegraph, Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Star.
Education Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:
I am delighted to be attending the launch of the Mentally Healthy Schools website today alongside Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge.
This government wants every young person to grow up feeling confident about themselves and their future - but too often mental health issues can have a lifelong impact, starting by affecting performance at school, and ultimately limiting work and life opportunities.
That’s why in December we launched the mental health green paper to look at how we can make sure that children and young people are able to get the right support when they need it.
The website being launched today will provide information to schools and teachers so they can provide effective pastoral support and help them to obtain specialist treatment where needed.
For more information about apprenticeship opportunities and degree apprenticeships please see here.