157 Group cautiously welcomes vocational qualification reductions
2nd February 2012
For immediate release: 2 February 2012
157 Group cautiously welcomes vocational qualification reductions
---BEGINS---
The 157 Group gave a cautious welcome to the news that the Government has determined which vocational qualifications are appropriate for use by 14 to 16 year olds. The announcement follows recommendations made by Professor Alison Wolf in her Review of Vocational Qualifications last year.
Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said, "We support the Government in seeking to ensure that the vocational qualifications studied by young people are ones that are appropriate to them at each stage of education. NVQs for example are designed for people at work and are not suitable for school pupils. It is unfortunate however that the way the decision has been reported gives the impression that vocational qualifications are inherently inferior. This is not the case as is clearly demonstrated by the Government's continuing strong support for apprenticeships and vocational learning in colleges."
Marilyn Hawkins, chair of 157 Group and principal of Barnet and Southgate College said, "We agree with the Department that many of the vocational qualifications offered by schools were not appropriate and did not equip learners with the skills they needed to progress. However, we are worried that people might get the message that vocational qualifications are worth less than academic ones and the Government needs to clarify that, in the appropriate context, vocational qualifications are vital to providing the skills employers need."
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---NOTES TO EDITORS---
The 157 Group's response to the Government response to the Wolf Review can be downloaded at: http://www.157group.co.uk/files/157_group_response_to_government_view_on_wolf.pdf
---About the 157 Group---
The 157 Group represents 27 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
---CONTACT---
Gemma Knott Tel: 07581354750 Email: [email protected] The 157 Group Limited P O Box 58147 London SW8 9AF
Website: www.157group.co.uk
