Shake-up of vocational qualifications

You say vocational, I say academic ...

Ah, the 14 to 19 qualifications quandary - the debate continues. The government has often stated its wish to establish parity between vocational and academic courses. In a new consultation paper, it outlines proposals for phasing out the profusion of existing vocational qualifications (such as BTECs, City & Guilds, NVQs) to make way for "a more comprehensive and coherent offer".

How coherent?

Pre-higher education, the proposed suite of qualifications would comprise GCSEs and A-levels, apprenticeships, diplomas, the foundation learning tier and standalone qualifications, all subject to approval by a new body called the Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval and regulated by the inelegantly-named Ofqual. By 2011, 17 new diplomas should be available with the first tranche coming on track this autumn. By 2013, when all 16- and 17-year-olds in England will be subject to the duty to participate in education or training, the "new offer", including full apprenticeship and diploma programmes, should be in place.