Three by the Sea

Three conferences in three days

Summaries, materials and photos from each of the conferences are now available.

The third SLN Annual Conference had something for everyone with an interest in vocational learning - employers, practitioners and researchers. It was open to learners, employers and practitioners. It was entirely free as part of our commitment to providing opportunities for all to share good practice and shape the future of the SLN and its activities.

Summary of day 1 - Learning about the new 14-19 diplomas (24 June)

Day one focused on the new 14-19 Diplomas, which will be available from September 2008 in five of the 17 proposed lines of study. These will be delivered alongside GCSEs and A levels and have been designed to provide stronger vocational routes into further and higher education. 

Conference sessions aimed to:

• Consider the impact of the diplomas on higher education in Sussex
• Identify issues relating to progression and information, advice & guidance
• Provide up to date information from practitioners, subject matter experts and local authority representatives

Summary of day 2 - Learning from research (25 June)

Day two brought together over 50 researchers across a range of local and national organisations with an interest in stimulating and supporting practitioner research into vocational learning.

Delegates could choose between 25 different research sessions, which aimed to:

• Present a forum for practitioners to discuss practice-based issues
• Disseminate current research relating to work based and work related learning
• Provide a basis for further collaboration locally, regionally and nationally
• Identify ways in which practitioners can be supported to develop their research skills

Summary of day 3 - Learning from practice (26 June)

Now that the SLN is 3 years old, we thought it timely to take a critical look, with our delegates, at the SLN's impact on vocational higher education in Sussex. Rather than simply look back, however, the day also included a lively debate, with local employers, on tackling the higher level skills agenda in Brighton.

Sessions looked at:

• Assessing the impact of the SLN on the curriculum; progression, and information, advice and guidance in Sussex
• How other LLNs are responding to some of these issues
• How learners and employers can make a difference
• The challenges facing us all in tackling the skills agenda in Brighton