New Tech-levels set to boost vocational training
Technical courses in subjects including engineering will soon gain the same status as A-levels, the government has announced.
The new Tech-level qualifications – to be introduced in 2014 - are aimed at raising the status of vocational qualifications in England.
They will be the only qualifications to count in league tables for 16 to 19 year-olds, and come as part of a government drive to eradicate students taking 'Mickey Mouse' courses.
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: "Tech-levels will recognise rigorous and responsive technical education.
"High quality, rigorous vocational education is essential to future prosperity, and the life chances of millions."
As part of the reforms, exam boards will be required to seek official endorsements from five companies to ensure qualifications that lead to recognised occupations.
Courses must be able to lead directly to a job, apprenticeship or further study and be equal in size to an A-level.
The CBI said it backed the changes, but would need reassurance that the system would command respect across entire sectors and not just be run by a handful of firms.
Neil Carberry, CBI director of employment and skills, commented: "The litmus test is that Tech-levels offer the gold standard training that employers want while not being seen as second class.
"Courses must have stretching subject knowledge, rigorous assessment, hard-nosed practical experience, and be a stepping stone to a great career. The new system must be very clear about which provision is deemed 'occupational' and which is to be 'applied general'.
"Perception is all with qualifications, so we must avoid a two-tier system, where one is seen as too narrow and the other as too broad. We want to see the more rigorous Tech-level brand extended to both."
