What is the future for vocational education?

David Harbourne Director of Policy and Research, Edge Foundation [email protected]

The Edge Foundation

A charity dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational education: www.edge.co.uk

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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.

Sponsors

Newcastle College Corporation Newcastle University Centre for Life

Local Partners

Newcastle International Airport Proctor & Gamble Northumbria Water SMD LTD Fleet Factors British Engines Ltd Hadrian Engineering CAR-O-LINER Onyx 4

Key Stage 4 vocational qualifications

2004

• Applied GCSEs: 113,000 • GNVQs: 117,000 • VRQs: 13,000 • Total: 243,000

2010

• VRQs: 587,000 • NVQs: 9,600 • Diplomas: 10,500 (2011) • Total: 607,100 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

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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.” 6

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 7

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 8

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.

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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 10

What happens to people who get vocational qualifications?

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Where are they now?

Lee Smith

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Where are they now?

Suzie Godfrey

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Where are they now?

Mark Wright

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Jamie Fineran

Plastering and Drywall Systems, Worldskills 2011 – Medallion for Excellence 16

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?

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