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Schools adopt vocational courses | Schools adopt vocational courses |
(1 day later) | |
The number of vocational qualifications taken in UK schools has almost doubled in a year to 155,000, a report claims. | The number of vocational qualifications taken in UK schools has almost doubled in a year to 155,000, a report claims. |
The report, for vocational pressure group Edge, also said the number of vocational qualifications had doubled between 2003 and 2007 to 3.25 million. | The report, for vocational pressure group Edge, also said the number of vocational qualifications had doubled between 2003 and 2007 to 3.25 million. |
Edge said the popularity of such courses had led schools to offer them. | Edge said the popularity of such courses had led schools to offer them. |
But schools still run only 4.75% of them, with private firms, colleges and employers offering the majority. | But schools still run only 4.75% of them, with private firms, colleges and employers offering the majority. |
'Sitting in rows' | 'Sitting in rows' |
Edge said vocational qualifications were a "rapidly growing feature of the school curriculum, particularly among those students aged 14-16". | Edge said vocational qualifications were a "rapidly growing feature of the school curriculum, particularly among those students aged 14-16". |
Full-page newspaper adverts have been promoting "VQ Day""School centres accounted for at least 155,000 vocationally-related qualifications achieved in 2006-07, nearly double the previous year," it added. | |
But only 40,000 of these were in the 14-16 age group. | But only 40,000 of these were in the 14-16 age group. |
Lead researcher David Hemsworth said schools tended to aim vocational qualifications towards the least able and most disaffected pupils. | Lead researcher David Hemsworth said schools tended to aim vocational qualifications towards the least able and most disaffected pupils. |
"But there's no reason why they should be just for them," he said. | "But there's no reason why they should be just for them," he said. |
"Some pupils do not respond to sitting in rows in a classroom but they do respond to practical work. | "Some pupils do not respond to sitting in rows in a classroom but they do respond to practical work. |
"Some schools are starting to use them with more able students as well." | "Some schools are starting to use them with more able students as well." |
University entry | University entry |
Mr Hemsworth cited one school in Milton Keynes which offered a qualification in logistics and transport to its most able students. | Mr Hemsworth cited one school in Milton Keynes which offered a qualification in logistics and transport to its most able students. |
He stressed that vocational qualifications could be taken at any level. | He stressed that vocational qualifications could be taken at any level. |
His report said vocational qualifications were increasingly being recognised as university entry qualifications in the Ucas points system. | His report said vocational qualifications were increasingly being recognised as university entry qualifications in the Ucas points system. |
In England nearly 14% of 19-year-olds achieved qualifications equivalent to the benchmark five good GCSEs. | In England nearly 14% of 19-year-olds achieved qualifications equivalent to the benchmark five good GCSEs. |
This was an increase of nearly two-thirds since 2004, the report said. | This was an increase of nearly two-thirds since 2004, the report said. |
The report said more than half of vocational related qualifications were achieved by people under 25, and 27% by those aged 14 to 19. | The report said more than half of vocational related qualifications were achieved by people under 25, and 27% by those aged 14 to 19. |
Edge released its report to coincide with what it is calling VQ Day - a concept it created to celebrate the hard work of all vocational qualification students. | Edge released its report to coincide with what it is calling VQ Day - a concept it created to celebrate the hard work of all vocational qualification students. |
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