This week MP Neil Carmichael discusses the new Berkeley Green technology hub.

THE Stroud Valleys and Vale can be proud to have an excellent further education college – the much-loved Stroud campus, built in the last decade, is emblematic of high teaching and learning standards.

Today, the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) is well poised to develop even more exciting opportunities for young people.

The plans for Berkeley Green underline the strength of SGS.

A new training centre at the now decommissioned power station focussing on energy, advanced manufacturing and cyber is already proving to be highly popular, judging by the success of the recent open day. Next, the new University Technical College will take off, providing opportunities in engineering for 14 to 18-year-old groups.

The innovative and modern ethos behind Berkeley Green is underlined by an idea to have a hovercraft to link across the Severn Estuary with the Forest of Dean.

This aspect of the project reminds us of the strategic advantage brought by SGS and its component campuses.

The further education sector as a whole is, of course, in need of reform. For too long, it has been seen as Cinderella in contrast to higher education so parity between technical and professional training with academic outcomes is long overdue. One way to achieve this is to introduce a properly valued and recognised National Apprenticeship Award, guaranteeing the quality of the training and saluting the achievement of recipients.

Another useful change would be to allow sixth form colleges to become academies. This would simplify the post-16 arena and, by extension, help to define more clearly the role of the FE sector.

The FE sector is currently charged with the task of dealing with the huge number of GCSE maths retakes, but this policy needs to be reviewed. While it is absolutely right for young people – wherever possible – to have a qualification in maths (and English), a numeracy qualification could suffice. Furthermore, maths should, anyway, be part of a post-16 curriculum through learning for a National Baccalaureate, formed through maths and English components plus traditional A-levels or technical qualifications.