A report highlighted the need for learning and skills providers to address issues of inclusive practices more vigorously - such as gender segregation, and the needs of adults and young people with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Source: Vikki Smith and Anne Armstrong, Beyond Prejudice: Inclusive learning in practice, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (pdf) | LSDA press release (Word file)
Date: 2005-Sep
A report presented findings from a study of gender segregation in apprenticeships in England. The majority of employers (70 per cent) agreed that recruiting more young people of the non-traditional sex into their sectors would help solve skills shortages.
Source: Alison Fuller, Vanessa Beck and Lorna Unwin, Employers, Young People and Gender Segregation (England), Working Paper 28, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
Researchers investigated the extent to which 14-19 pathfinder projects were challenging inequalities and stereotypes affecting young people?s choices, and monitoring the outcomes for individuals or groups - with particular reference to gender, ethnicity, and disability. Most pathfinders seemed unaware that they were expected to track the impact of their activities on different groups of young people.
Source: Gill Haynes, Caroline Wragg and Keith Mason, Equality and Pathfinders, Working Paper 36, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A report evaluated an official project which focused on the apparent differential achievement of boys and girls at key stage 2 and key stage 4 in schools in England. It highlighted some of the dilemmas which were implicit within the debate, explored different interpretations and perspectives about boys under-achievement , and challenged some common misconceptions.
Source: Mike Younger and Molly Warrington, Raising Boys' Achievement, Research Report 636, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
A report said that young people particularly girls from lower socio-economic groups were not being given the access to careers advice, work-experience placements, and training opportunities that would allow them to fulfil their potential and gain higher pay. Instead, too many were being channelled into jobs traditional to their sex.
Source: Free to Choose: Tackling gender barriers to better jobs, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report (pdf) | EOC press release
Date: 2005-Mar
The Equal Opportunities Commission in Scotland called for the Scottish Executive to take urgent action to tackle sex segregation in the modern apprenticeship programme.
Source: Emily Thomson, Ailsa McKay, Jim Campbell and Morag Gillespie, Jobs for the Boys and the Girls: Promoting a smart successful and equal Scotland, Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland (0845 601 5904)
Links: Report (pdf) | EOC press release
Date: 2005-Feb