The new government is viewing Technical Schools as a sensible option for the future. Students aged 12 and 13 will be given the option to quit mainstream schools and study at the new university sponsored colleges. The NUT is against the decision, claiming that it will create a two tier system in which the technical colleges will not teach languages and creative subjects, merely English, maths, science and IT. My personal view is that the scheme is an excellent one, giving hands-on vocational training for those with no intention of or desire to proceed through the traditional academic channel. The fact that the NUT fears the perception of technical schools as ‘the poor cousin’ says more about them and the view of practical skills training in this country than it does about the schools themselves.
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