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What is the future for vocational education?. David Harbourne Director of Policy and Research, Edge Foundation dharbourne@edge.co.uk. The Edge Foundation. A charity dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational education: www.edge.co.uk.
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What is the future for vocational education? David Harbourne Director of Policy and Research, Edge Foundation dharbourne@edge.co.uk
The Edge Foundation A charity dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational education: www.edge.co.uk
SponsorsNewcastle College CorporationNewcastle UniversityCentre for LifeLocal PartnersNewcastle International AirportProctor & GambleNorthumbria WaterSMD LTDFleet FactorsBritish Engines LtdHadrian EngineeringCAR-O-LINEROnyx Newcastle UTC will specialise in Engineering, Information Technology and Science.Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are woven into the fabric of a city with a long and proud heritage of complex industrial engineering, from shipbuilding and railways to defence industries to a present day position in the vanguard of scientific development.
Key Stage 4 vocational qualifications 2004 2010 VRQs: 587,000 NVQs: 9,600 Diplomas: 10,500 (2011) Total: 607,100 • Applied GCSEs: 113,000 • GNVQs: 117,000 • VRQs: 13,000 • Total: 243,000 VRQ: Vocationally-Related Qualification NVQ: National Vocational Qualification A few applied GCSEs were taken in 2010 … but not many (eg engineering: 1,850) GCSE entries (2011): 5,152,000
The Wolf Report “Perverse incentives created by the current system have encouraged the teaching of qualifications which attract the most points in the performance tables – not the qualifications that will support young people to progress.”
Wolf Report: government response • Schools can offer any qualification they like • Only “high quality” qualifications will count in performance tables • End of “equivalence”: one VQ = one GCSE • A maximum of two VQs per pupil will count in performance tables
What does “high quality” mean? Qualifications that will feature in the Key Stage 4 performance tables should – • allow for progression to a broad range of qualifications post 16 • be at least the size of a GCSE • have a substantial amount of external assessment, including synoptic assessment • be graded • have a proven track record
Post-16 study programmes Programmes should include – • at least one qualification of substantial size and challenge • non-qualifications activity such as tutorial time • internships where appropriate • English and maths for all those who do not have the GCSE at C or above Study programmes should not focus solely on one occupational area: they should not narrow a young person's options in terms of future learning or employment.
Work-related learning • Proposal is that WRL should cease to be part of the statutory KS4 curriculum • Schools will be free to offer KS4 WRL (including work experience) if they choose • Emphasis on longer placements/internships for post-16 students
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Jamie Fineran Plastering and Drywall Systems, Worldskills 2011 – Medallion for Excellence
And don’t forget … • There’s a shortage of graduate-level jobs • There’s a shortage of people with intermediate (technician) level skills • The baby boomers are starting to retire. • Who’s going to service your boiler in ten years’ time?