Diploma plan rejection is a lost opportunity

24 Feb 05
Proposals to transform the teaching and assessment of 14 to 19-year-olds have been condemned as a missed opportunity across the education sector.

25 February 2005

Proposals to transform the teaching and assessment of 14 to 19-year-olds have been condemned as a missed opportunity across the education sector.

The long-awaited education white paper, published on February 23, is a response to Sir Mike Tomlinson's review of 14-19 learning and delivered few surprises.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly fought shy of embracing Tomlinson's recommendations in full, rejecting the idea of a single, overarching diploma that would include both academic and vocational elements. She did, however, offer a glimmer of hope to Tomlinson fans, promising to review the idea again in 2008.

Although GCSEs and A-level examinations will remain, Kelly set out what she said was a 'radical package' of reforms that would enhance vocational opportunities, strengthen numeracy and literacy skills, increase post-16 participation and stretch the brightest students.

But teachers leaders said Kelly's response was a 'failure of nerve'. Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: 'It looks as if shortsighted electoral considerations have over-ridden sensible policy making.'

John Dunford of the Secondary Heads Association echoed this view. 'The white paper is a lost opportunity to create the coherent, unified qualifications system that this country needs. The Tomlinson diploma, carefully crafted with the support of employers, universities, colleges and schools, has been strangled at birth,' he said.

Critics said the proposals did nothing to address the persistence of a two-tier system where vocational education was regarded as the poor relation of academic study.

John Brennan, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the 'spectre of secondary modern education' would continue to haunt Britain.

'The “radical transformation” of vocational education of which the secretary of state talks fails to create a system which values the achievements of all our young people, especially those in local colleges,' he said.

Vocational education is also hampered by funding inequities, Brennan maintained, with further education colleges receiving at least 10% less per student than schools.

As Public Finance went to press, 42 further education colleges were due to begin industrial action in protest at funding levels.

Kelly said she would keep funding issues under review.

PFfeb2005

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