I can see the dilemma for these children and I strongly believe in vocational education. The school will be very well funded and it is right that they provide value for money but perhaps schools like this should be judged on different criteria? For example, do they get young people into jobs? Are they successfully trained in their vocation? How is that judged? Qualifications or learning on the job with sponsors?
We are very short of home trained building industry tradespeople, hotel workers, waiters, care assistants, chefs, machinists, and many other jobs that are hard work but do require certain skills rather than GCSEs. However, we seem to employ people from abroad to do this work, rather than train up our own young people because employers want ready trained employees who turn up every day on time. Even Jamie Oliver says he cannot run his businesses without workers from abroad. These schools could bridge the gap if they forge strong links with employers. However, can they teach all the skills needed when years ago this was the work of the local FE college? Do they have the necessary facilities and teachers? What now is the role of an FE college? Presumably qualifications rather than skills. Choice is confusing.