‘Weak’ business courses under fire

In a damning report, Ofsted condemn vocational business qualifications which fail to develop pupils’ understanding and skills in the subject.

The inspectorate also raise concerns that business courses which are examined through internally set and marked assignments are seen as equivalent to GCSEs.

The report, which looked at economics, business and enterprise education in schools and colleges, found a “serious problem” in 30 of the 39 schools inspected for vocational business courses. Despite students achieving good results, the quality of their work was weak, it found.

Some lessons focused too much on completing narrow written assignments that gave students little opportunity to debate issues, extend their thinking and develop a broader understanding and skills in the subject.

“Despite good results, the quality of students’ work, their knowledge and understanding, and their ability to apply learning to unfamiliar contexts and to demonstrate higher-level skills, were often weak,” it said.

“This was because of the rather narrow and simplistic approach to the identification of assessment criteria that was common on such courses, and the fact that assignments were designed only to ensure that students were able to demonstrate these criteria in their written submissions.”

The report added: “Evidence from lesson observations, scrutiny of written work and discussion with students brings into question the case for claiming that such courses are equivalent to between two and four single-award, traditionally examined GCSEs at Key Stage 4.”

Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: “Vocational qualifications provide a valuable route to employment and further study for many learners. However, the report highlights the need to review the equivalency of vocational business qualifications that are assessed wholly or mainly by internally set and marked assignments with more traditional GCSEs and A-levels.”

The report comes just weeks after Education Secretary Michael Gove announced plans to reform vocational education.

Under the measures, 14-year-olds will be given more opportunities to study at college rather than school and league tables will be overhauled so that only vocational qualifications which are identified as high quality are likely to be included.