date: 24.03.09
embargo: none
Unions and employers make the grade on skills reveals Ofsted
There was fulsome praise for the partnership between employers and trade unions in a recent Ofsted* report on U-Net, part of unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organization. Ofsted found that 'employers benefit from these partnerships, with improved staff morale, reduced sick leave and staff turnover, fewer complaints and grievances, and higher rates of internal promotion.' The report places U-Net among the best providers in the country, awarding a Grade 2 for all aspects of learning provision. Ofsted judged overall success rates as above national averages and support for learners as outstanding.
The successful partnership between employers and trade unions has produced 'learning...highly responsive to employers' needs [which] meets learners' needs as well.' The report concluded that this is backed by good employer support to meet the needs of learners who do not traditionally have easy access to learning'. This was also reflected in the fact that Ofsted rated 'Skills for Life success rates...above national averages'. In this time of recession, it was equally pleasing to hear that the report found that 'learners develop good skills and improve their employability and career prospects' and high praise for 'very good progression'. Success rates for Black learners have risen from 54% in 2007/08 to 81.8% and for Asian learners from 70.2% to 82.1% - well above the national average.
Ofsted judged that union learning reps (ULRs) provided 'outstanding peer support' as 'mentors, advocates, negotiators, role models and advisors' which is good news for workplaces all over the country where over 20,000 ULRs are based. The report praised ULRs as 'highly effective as role models', whose input learners value highly and 'cite as one of the most important elements in their learning.' ULRs were backed by TUC Education provision of training, described as 'a well designed set of specialist qualifications [which] empower ULRs and equips them well to support learners. Regular supplementary training maintains their expertise.'
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said: 'It is a credit to over 20,000 union learning reps (ULR) all over the country, that this initiative has been recognized as 'particularly effective' and that learning reps are judged to be 'highly effective role models'. Our overall success rates and Skills for Life* success rates are above the national average and support for learners is outstanding.
'Ofsted's praise for our work among non-traditional learners and for ULRs proves, what we have always said, that unionlearn reaches learners, other organizations cannot reach. I am particularly pleased that U-Net has been recognized for its 'strong ethos to widen participation in learning and promote social inclusion' and that success rates for Black and Asian learners have risen to well above the national average.'
Unionlearn's mission - to change lives through learning - has certainly worked for some of the learners who spoke to Ofsted . One learner was proud to say, 'I read a book to my little grandchild the other day - it was magic.' Another is now helping their child with their homework and said, 'when my daughter asked for help on prisms and cuboids, I said, 'leave it to me!''. One woman is completely changing her career, thanks to union-led learning and told Ofsted , 'my school said I wasn't bright enough for nursing. Now I know it's not true'.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
To view the Ofsted report in full go to:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/(id)/106564/(as)/57714_330986.pdf
Media enquiries:
Wanda Wyporska T: 020 7079 6950 M: 07795 844728 E: wwyporska@tuc.org.uk
Press release (600 words) issued 25 Mar 2009
