Join us
And find out why ATL is the fastest growing union in the education sector
ATL comment on Foundation Learning
9 February 2010
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:
"ATL supports Foundation Learning because we believe its flexible structure, fitting into the Qualification and Credit Framework, is beneficial to young people who are determined they will not be written off.
"However, our members provide mixed evidence as to how easily pupils find it to transfer to the other central 14-19 qualifications and progress with their education.
"It is essential that the government meets the particular teaching needs of the young people for whom Foundation Learning is provided and helps raise their aspirations. It would be totally unacceptable for them to be cast aside or pigeon-holed while they are in their early teens."
Notes to editors
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.