BVK

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incentivising young people to take the most valuable vocational qualifications pre-16, while removing incentives to take large numbers of vocational qualifications to the detriment of core academic study
introducing principles to guide study programmes for young people on vocational routes post-16 to ensure they are gaining skills which will lead to progression into a variety of jobs or further learning, in particular, to ensure that those who have not secured a good pass in English and mathematics GCSE continue to study those subjects
evaluating the delivery structure and content of apprenticeships to ensure they deliver the right skills for the workplace
making sure the regulatory framework moves quickly away from accrediting individual qualifications to regulating awarding organisations
removing the requirement that all qualifications offered to 14- to 19-year-olds fit within the Qualifications and Credit Framework, which has had a detrimental effect on their appropriateness and has left gaps in the market
enabling FE lecturers and professionals to teach in schools, ensuring young people are being taught by those best suited.

http://www.education.gov.uk/16to19/qualificationsandlearning/a0074953/review-of-vocational-education-the-wolf-report

An email to:
Dear Lord Baker

I understand that you have now been asked to by the government to” to set up a new generation of technical schools to train teenagers to become builders, technicians and engineers.”

As someone who attended a secondary modern school in the 1950s after failing the divisive 11+, I left school at 15 years old and went on to a Technical College where, following a “foundation” certificate, which “streamed” young people in to effectively 2 streams. Those who would become apprentices, work with a qualified tradesman and continue at college on day release to add “underpinning” knowledge to their apprenticeship.

The second stream (the route I took) went on to take the “BTEC National and Higher National Certificate and Diploma.” Which are still available.
I understand that employers at that time had an obligation to allow day release.

Simply-there is little for you to do! The exam infrastructure is still in place!. Many colleges in the South West already follow this route. (Foundation Degree).

It is however necessary that parents understand that this is not a ”Second” class route. The Higher National Diploma is at least the equivalent of a Degree second year. I later took a university final year to give me degree(s).

In favour of the work based route is that, unlike a direct entry degree, the students has work experience.

Technical schools should be funded by reducing the number of students going directly to university.-This should occur naturally with introduction of the Baccalaureate and the government only funding direct university entry with the right grades.

In short- go back to the 1950 and update what was available then.

I would like to suggest that the NUS start a campaign that encourages suitable students to follow the Foundation degree/work-based route to a University BA (Hons) which is considerably cheaper than the direct route to university via A levels.
This route has the advantage that it can cost less that £10,000! and where possible the student can live at home.
I realise that finding work can be a problem but it is much less a problem if the student has work experience.
I gained my second BA(hons) in 2008 whilst work for a charity and the cost was less than £1,000 and gave the charity useful research at no cost.

I would suggest that there is a REDUCTION in direct university places and this money goes to the new technical schools that Michael Gove is considering.
See www.kissack.org.uk/blog.

Barrie Kissack

Until recently both political parties have ignore the loss of apprenticeships and with the opening up of the common market it has meant that skilled workers from other european countries have taken their place.
Tony Blair gave many young people no option other that to aim for a university place. If we are to believe newspaper reports on “drop out” rates this as meant many former students leaving university with no qualifications or future.
Surely we must bring back with a matter of urgency the option of “work based” learning alongside college based qualifications that, if wanted could lead to a University degree.
If the answer is there is no work- I gained a BA(hons) degree in 2008 working for a charity(unpaid).

Follow the work based route to a BA (Hons)- cost about £10,000 in total whilst living at home.

Dear Lord Baker

I understand that you have now been asked to by the government to” to set up a new generation of technical schools to train teenagers to become builders, technicians and engineers.”

As someone who attended a secondary modern school in the 1950s after failing the divisive 11+, I left school at 15 years old and went on to a Technical College where, following a “foundation” certificate, which “streamed” young people in to effectively 2 streams. Those who would become apprentices, work with a qualified tradesman and continue at college on day release to add “underpinning” knowledge to their apprenticeship.

The second stream (the route I took) went on to take the “BTEC National and Higher National Certificate and Diploma.” Which are still available.
I understand that employers at that time had an obligation to allow day release.

Simply-there is little for you to do! The exam infrastructure is still in place!. Many colleges in the South West already follow this route. (Foundation Degree).

It is however necessary that parents understand that this is not a ”Second” class route. The Higher National Diploma is at least the equivalent of a Degree second year. I later took a university final year to give me degree(s).

In favour of the work based route is that, unlike a direct entry degree, the students has work experience.

Technical schools should be funded by reducing the number of students going directly to university.-This should occur naturally with introduction of the Baccalaureate and the government only funding direct university entry with the right grades.

In short- go back to the 1950 and update what was available then.