Dead-end educational courses failing thousands, says adviser

Alison Wolf, who was publishing her independent review into vocational education, said hundreds of thousands of young people are being failed because many courses “do not lead anywhere”.

She also attacked the pressures of school league tables which have caused a move away from a core curriculum.

Prof Wolf’s report calls for any teenager who fails to score at least a C in GCSE maths and English to continue these subjects post-16.

She said: “It is absolutely scandalous that less than half of the cohort have these qualifications at 16.”

Prof Wolf, who was commissioned to produce the report by Education Secretary Michael Gove, said the two subjects are the “most important in the world”.

But she added: “In the last few years because of the pressure of league tables we have moved away from that. This is a very bad thing for young people and it is immoral.”

Under the current system, vocational qualifications are given points that make the “equivalent” to GCSE grades – for example one vocational qualification could be worth four GCSEs.

This has led to schools and colleges entering pupils for qualifications they know youngsters will pass to boost league table scores.

Prof Wolf estimated that between a quarter and a third of 16 to 19-year-olds – 300,000 to 400,000 teenagers – are on programmes offering no clear opportunities for progression and qualifications with little or no market value.

In his foreword to the review, Mr Gove wrote: “Far too many 14 to 16-year-olds are doing courses with little or no value because performance tables incentivise schools to offer these inadequate qualifications. She is correct to say these young people are being deceived and that this is not just unacceptable, but morally wrong.”

Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham said: “We accept the need to look at the weight attached to some vocational qualifications in league tables.

“But it is unfair and wrong to give the impression that many young people are wasting their time on worthless courses. There is clear evidence, and the review acknowledges, that many vocational courses are supporting progression to further study and employment.”

Mary Bousted, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: “Once again the Government is looking at piecemeal reviews. It is not producing a coherent education for all young people from three to 19 to fully integrate the academic and vocational skills and knowledge they all need regardless of the career they choose.”

Andy Tuscher, regional director of the manufacturers’ trade body EEF, cautioned against only highlighting shortcomings with vocational training. He said: “We want more emphasis on vocational training but it needs to be set up properly, funded properly and targeted to meet market need.”

The University and College Union’s Yorkshire spokesman, John Giddins, said: “Young people must have access to a broad curriculum and must not be forced to choose between academic and vocational routes at a young age.

“While we welcome the chance for students to study more traditional subjects alongside vocational qualifications, there has to be flexibility within the system.”