Ensure that the technical, practical and vocational
education and qualifications offered in schools, FE and HE are high
quality and recognised by employers
Policy: the government should encourage,
support and fund rigorous technical, practical and vocational
education at every stage - schools, colleges, universities and
work-based learning. This should include flagship institutions
focusing on specific disciplines.
Practice: all initial teacher training
programmes should include the theory and practice of learning by
doing. Technical and vocational subjects should be taught by people
with workplace experience, using high-quality equipment, materials
and facilities - this means encouraging more people to train as
teachers after careers in other sectors.
Perception: employers say some young people are
not well prepared for the world of work, and that qualifications
don't meet their needs. Employers should therefore be involved in
qualification and course design at every level - schools, further
and higher education and apprenticeships.
Download the full Six Steps for Change
report