Sadly, there does seem to be a prevailing view in education that vocational/technical subjects are somewhat inferior to academic subjects - and nowhere is this more amplified than on results days in August. Sure, we know that GCSE and A Level results come out on these days, but schools and colleges across the land also share results from vocational subjects as well.
This year, the then prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the children’s commissioner and many others, who probably should know better, all congratulated those students collecting GCSE and A Level results without a mention for those young people collecting vocational qualification results.
This comes despite the best efforts of the amazing Steph McGovern in recent years. Furthermore, the strengthening of the Baker Clause in 2022’s Skills and Post-16 Education Act, now making it legally enforceable, underlines the view academic subjects rule the roost over vocational/technical progression routes at year 12.
