23 July 2004
Teaching and attainment standards for some of the new vocational GCSEs have fallen below expected levels, school inspectors said this week.
An Ofsted report published on July 20 said the standards achieved by pupils on the leisure and tourism courses and on some of the health and social care courses were 'disappointingly' low compared with results achieved in other vocational subjects.
Teaching was judged to be satisfactory overall, but still fell short of standards seen in other GCSE subjects at Key Stage 4. Ofsted ascribed this to teachers' lack of familiarity with the new courses and inadequate preparation time to teach them.
'Teachers on the new courses are committed and enthusiastic, but those new to teaching vocational subjects must have professional development opportunities to ensure that they have relevant and up-to-date vocational knowledge and experience to teach them effectively,' chief schools inspector David Bell said.
The report also noted that in schools where vocational subjects are taught only to lower-achieving pupils, the courses are not as well regarded as academic GCSEs.
It called for greater clarity over course specifications and improved guidance on the work experience schools should be providing.
The National Union of Teachers said the report showed vocational courses were going in the right direction and should be factored into Mike Tomlinson's ongoing review of 14-19 education.
Head of education John Bangs said: 'Though further improvements are needed they are clearly working, and Mike Tomlinson would do well to take this into account rather than opting for over-complex approaches for 14–19 year olds.'
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