Practice Makes Perfect: The Importance of Practical Learning

Policy Title: Practice Makes Perfect: The Importance of Practical Learning

Institution: The Social Market Foundation

Full reference: Kehoe, D. (ed.) Practice makes Perfect: the importance of practical learning. London: Social Market Foundation

Summary

This collection of essays from the Social Market Foundation looks at the specific issue of practical learning. It brings together some of the foremost thinkers in this field to look at the evidence and the challenges facing policymakers. Writing on topics such as which skills matter, why governments treat Further Education students like children, and whether the education system teaches the right skills, the contributors address the issues central to raising skills for young people and adults to world standards.

The publication argues that raising the status of practical and vocational learning is vital from both economic and social perspectives. Britain has much to lose in the years to come if the low status of practical learning endures. These essays form useful contributions to the debate on how we meet the UK Skills challenge.

Contributors include Alissa Goodman from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, John Weston, Chairman of the University for Industry, Professor Alison Wolf from King’s College London with a foreword from Bill Rammell MP, then Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education.

Go to the journal article.