The Wolf report - review of vocational education

3 March 2011

Commenting on The Wolf Report, Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union said;

“The report's findings simply reinforce the historical view of vocational education in this country that it is the 'Cinderella' of the education world. Academic education is important but so is vocational education and it is vitally important that vocational qualifications have real currency with universities, employers and parents.

“The report is right to highlight the distorting effect that League Tables have on the education system. Michael Gove himself recognises this and I hope now that the Government will finally do something about ending this pointless exercise.

“What must be avoided at all costs, as the Report recognises, is young people being herded into one type of education or another at far too young an age. We need a 14-19 education system that ensures equality of access and an entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum for all young people.

“What we don't need is vocational education being offered solely by separate institutions, such as University Technical Academies. Dividing schools along vocational or academic lines will simply enforce selection by division, direction and assumption.

“The harsh truth for many young people is not the nature of their qualifications but the desperate lack of employment opportunities. Coupled with the axing of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and the raising of tuition fees their future prospects look bleak and this is something the Government urgently needs to address”.

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