DfE announces Technical 'A' levels

The DfE has announced details on the first wave of 142 technical qualifications which are aimed to be a practical alternative to A-levels. Matthew Hancock, the Skills Minister, said: “We must be honest with our young people. For too long, too many students have been taking qualifications that do not help them get a job, into training, or to university.” Last year, the government stripped out 91% of the 3,721 vocational qualifications currently taught in England from future league tables. The new ‘Tech Levels’ will be included in league tables from 2016.

Exam boards must obtain endorsements from five companies, confirming that they provide the skills needed for particular trades, before qualifications can be registered under the Tech Level banner. Amongst companies backing the new qualifications are, Vauxhall, Npower, Volvo, Procter and Gamble, Kawasaki, Honda and Cisco. Whilst Arsenal is endorsing a diploma in sport and the Royal Ballet School is backing a qualification in performing arts. Courses must be able to lead directly to a job, Apprenticeship or further study and be equal in size to an A-level. The government has also unveiled 87 generic vocational qualifications, which provide broader study as “Applied General Qualifications”. The qualifications need the explicit backing of three universities and will be equal to half an A-level.

[ source: gtassociates.org ]