Inspire 2 Aspire

Further information issued this morning, on the ever confusing world of student loans and finance…….

Plan 2 student loan interest rates capped at 6% in England The cap on Plan 2 and postgraduate loan interest rates comes amid a risk of rising inflation.

For any students interested in an Apprenticeship, it may be worth having a read of this article. I imagine that it will be popular though, so don’t waste too much time…..

Appledore shipyard opens applications to take on 20 new apprentices Navantia UK, the owner of Appledore shipyard, is recruiting 20 more apprentices in 2026, with applications now open

Yet more changes to the Apprenticeship option, as ‘fast track’ routes to be introduced.

‘…….Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects, as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process…….’

Britain’s growth sectors to get major skills boost from new ‘fast track’ apprenticeships reforms Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process.

Whilst is a long way off ….. but time passes quickly…… students in Year 11 may find this article interesting and useful to read in advance, regarding the new G.C.S.E. results app that has been trialled.
It is worth pointing out though that:

“…Students will still be encouraged to go into school on results day to receive "advice or support", headteachers say.
One incentive to do so is that while the traditional brown envelopes containing the much-anticipated grades will still be available to collect in person from 08:00 on results day, the new app will not get its update until 11:00…..”

GCSE results will be available online this summer Year 11 students will have a digital record of their results on an app for future use.

Not sure what I think about this…. yet….. but am posting it nonetheless, for anyone under the age of 25 who may be interested.

UK to offer military gap year in effort to boost recruitment The paid 12-month course is aimed at under-25s, with plans for the scheme to grow to 1,000 young people a year.

In order to reduce the increasing number of young people who are considered to be NEETS (not in employment, education or training), it has been announced today, that they will be stripped of their right to claim benefits if they refuse a taxpayer-funded job after 18 months without a job.
The following article explains in much more detail what this will involve and is well worth a read….

Young people to lose benefits if they turn down work, says minister Pat McFadden says they would need a "good reason" to decline one of 55,000 new work placements.

So much useful information on the Martin Lewis show tonight, regarding student loan overpayments, with an estimated 1.1 million students having overpaid last year. It’s impossible to write it all down here, so hopefully you will find this link helpful…… or you could watch the programme on catch~up!

Student loan overpayments This MoneySavingExpert guide can help you check if you've overpaid your student loan and reclaim the cash if so. 10,000s overpay their student loans – have you?

So for school leavers at 16, another qualification is being introduced ~ V Levels, which are set to replace Level 3 B.Tec qualifications. No date has been announced yet though for when they will start.
With more and more choice now available at 16….. A Levels, T Levels, Apprenticeships and now V Levels, research is important to ensure that you are on the correct route, so hopefully this article will help you.

New V-level courses to be brought in for students after GCSEs Ministers say new vocational courses will simplify the "confusing" options students have after GCSEs.

An interesting article which supports and backs up everything that I have been saying for many years! 🤷‍♀️

North East youth ambassador calls for better careers education Rylie Sweeney, from Hartlepool, says careers education should be part of the national curriculum.

Throughout my 39 years of working with students of all ages, offering careers education and guidance, I have always maintained (and told them!), that there is a route for everyone.
With exam results days looming on the horizon, you may wish to bear this quote in mind…..
Good luck to all of you though!

Some information so that you can see at a glance the price increase for tuition fees…. there are a few variances too, depending on which part of the country you live in. There is more information in my last post on this.