Skills committee urges single academic and vocational diploma to replace GCSEs and A levels be reconsidered

A parliamentary report into skills training has criticised the government鈥檚 abandonment of plans to scrap GCSEs and A levels in favour of a unified academic and vocational diploma.

The report by the House of Commons education and skills committee says the move may miss the opportunity to raise the status of skills training, and calls for the option to be kept under review. The government rejected a fully unified academic and vocational diploma last month.

The committee report states: 鈥淲e understand the disappointment at the announcement that GCSEs and A levels were to be retained and that the unified diploma would not be introduced, in what was seen as a failure to seize the chance to transform education for 14 to 19 year olds. We urge that the matter of integration of GCSEs, A levels and vocational qualifications within a unified diploma be kept under review.鈥�

The report did, however, express hope that the 14 specialised lines of vocational diploma recommended by the government may lead to a single qualification. It said: 鈥淥nce some sort of diploma is in place, it might make the unified diploma seem more achievable.鈥� It also welcomed the move to bring apprenticeships within the vocational diploma.

The findings have been welcomed by the Construction Confederation, which submitted written and oral evidence to the committee. Stephen Ratcliffe, chief executive of the confederation, said: 鈥淲e have led a concerted campaign to win parity of status and resources for vocational education and qualifications.

It was seen as a failure to seize the chance to transform education

Education committee report

鈥淲e have achieved some major strides forward and it is clear from this report and other recent government proposals that the issue is now firmly established as being high on the education agenda.鈥�

The report also recommends improved resources for vocational education, claiming the government must do more to address the lack of money given to colleges compared with schools.

It says: 鈥淚f the government wants collaboration between providers of education it is going to have to move more quickly on the issue of differential funding. Most vocational education is likely to take place in further education colleges, as they are more likely to have the existing provision.鈥�

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