On 2013-12-03 13:32:08 +0000, Janet said:

In article ,
says...
I wish we had the

old 'technical colleges' for those who didn't want to go on to
University but did want to make a career that didn't require a degree.

You just haven't a clue about career training; that's exactly what
countless local FE colleges and UTC's provide. Most apprentices and
young trainees attend college to obtain the technical accreditations
required these days. Employers get govt funding to take on trainees.
Colleges also arrange work placements.

http://www.cityandguilds.com/Courses-and-Qualifications

http://www.utcolleges.org/


It's mere months since you were berating the RHS for not encouraging
young career gardeners.. based on your equal ignorance of what the RHS
does.

Janet.



Yup. Being married to a nurseryman will do that to a person. We have
had young people working in our Tea Room who are attending South Devon
College during the week but rarely, full time, at present. I asked Ray
about HIS understanding of what Technical Colleges were. To him, these
were Colleges *all* over the country which were full time education for
those who didn't want to take O levels and A levels. Some had night
classes so that the youngsters attending them could work during the
day, learning by doing, as well. I was not talking about 44 (?)
colleges in England and Wales that are sponsored by businesses or in
some cases, universities and offer part-time courses, admirable though
the aims of those may be.

I am talking about what used to be available easily to all and what I
hope these new colleges will replace, in all areas, as part of the
mainstream education system. I am perfectly willing to admit that none
of my family has used these but during the few years I was at school
here in my youth, there were children I knew or knew of, who made a
conscious decision to take another branch in the road towards a career
but one that was full time and was state funded, not a matter of luck
as to whether one is available in a particular area. Every large town
or city had one. Even the PM has called for the establishment of the
new-style Tech Colleges all over the country "in every single major
town". THAT is what is needed to replace what has been lost and to
which I was referring, not what we have at present even though it's a
laudable beginning.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon