Thematic report |
Training for construction, planning and the built environment - October 2013
The purpose of this thematic survey is to provide the Welsh Government (WG) with advice on the current standards and quality of provision for construction, planning and the built environment in further education institutions (FEIs) and work-based learning (WBL) providers, as requested in the annual remit letter to Estyn from the Minister for Education and Skills.
Recommendations
The Welsh Government should:
- negotiate with providers to fund programmes that match labour market needs; and
- make the qualifications framework for the construction sector in Wales more relevant to the needs of industry by providing greater choice of optional units in addition to the core elements of the programme and ensure that the framework contains a focus on literacy and numeracy.
Education and training providers should:
- improve the quality of their networks and relationships with local employers;
- improve the rate at which learners complete and attain their qualifications and frameworks;
- fully integrate literacy and numeracy into all programmes and make sure that teachers, trainers and assessors are equipped to support the literacy and numeracy needs of learners;
- challenge learners to develop and achieve higher-level practical skills and theory knowledge;
- programme and organise industrial work experience placements for all full-time FEI learners;
- use labour market intelligence more effectively to match the provision to local employment opportunities, managing learner demand by the use of effective advice and guidance; and
- regularly update the industrial experience and knowledge of teachers, trainers and assessors.