Technical Qualification

[H202too]

Having a child who is 18 who I feel has been let down by system. I think in principle it is a great idea.
How will it work in reality ?What would happen to teachers of non core subjects such as History, art and PE?
Will they have to retrain to deliver more vocational subjects? Wouldn't say this has worked with the Btecs.

Will they do a day release? How will we safeguard this?
Will colleges need to expand?

Will all schools have to become UTC's.

I know time will tell but I don't understand how it will work in practice?

Some schools have been doing this for years. It could be day release or, like a school near me, they may get their own facility and staff. D
For me, as a 30+ year teacher, I just want a cross party consensus so that whatever changes come have some staying power.

If some subjects do become obsolete, that is just progress I'm afraid. I could be one of them but we have to recognise that times change and financial pressures mean schools cant keep offering niche subjects to tiny groups..I would like each LA to coordinate though so that kids could make choices about a wide range of subjects, possibly involving a change of campus.

This sounds good but again will it be funded? Already I see some of the art subjects not happy.

As a teacher myself we also do it on a small scale. About 10 students go to college for a day. However the behaviour in Health and Social care, Business, Child development is shocking compared to the GCSE subjects so the narrative and value in society will have to completely change.

I think as long as it is properly funded and not rushed before things are in place it has the potential to be fantastic

There will always be those who the academic path is the right one but making alternative paths as easy to access and as valued has the potential to make a massive difference for many. I think for too long vocational routes have been looked down on which is wrong.

Totally agree! Someone was talking about bringing back the grammar vs secondary modern but it isn't about that.

We (I am a governor) do this already, in a limited way. It’s forms part of our Alternative Provision offering. We have young people working in stables, fisheries, farms, and construction - but, we have had to find the funding from within the current budget which has been hard, and restricts it for those who as struggling.
What this gives us is the opportunity to role this out wider, for young people to follow these vocational paths as an active choice, not an AP.

We are in Greater Manchester though, and have already been engaging with the Mayors office about this, as it was going to be introduced to GM schools anyway.

All the current subjects will still be available for those who want to follow an academic pathway.