Vocational routes will prove their worth

In two years, this will be extended until they are 18. For all those working with young people there are challenges involved in making these extra years engaging and meaningful. This year a quarter of pupils left secondary school without a GCSE of grade C or higher, while one in 20 left school without a single GCSE. Providing alternative routes to gaining qualifications and training is one way to enthuse more young people and ensure a greater number emerge ready for the workplace.

Edge is a campaigning organisation that seeks to promote practical learning routes for young people aged 14 to 25. It recently launched a national campaign to help dispel the common parental belief that vocational qualifications are easy options for young people and it also hosts an awards ceremony to celebrate young people's completion of vocational qualifications. Its celebration event, VQ Day, took place on 23 July. It is now piloting a Business in Schools project that aims to bring businesses closer together with schools and colleges through a free, online service that identifies local opportunities to provide work-related learning for young people.