At a major education conference in Cardiff, Education Minister Leighton Andrews yesterday opened a debate about the future of A-level and vocational subjects in Wales.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews said:
“There has been an explosion over recent years in both the number of subjects being taught at ‘A’ level and the wide variety of vocational subjects.
“The question we have to ask ourselves is, are we giving our young people the right guidance about what qualifications really matter to them, to equip them for the career paths they choose.
“We know there are subjects where some universities want the focus to be. We also know there are some qualifications that employers don’t want. It’s my responsibility to ensure that Welsh schools and FE colleges focus on what matters when it comes to skills and qualifications.
“A recent paper from the Russell Group of universities frowned on certain subjects at A Level. It made me raise the question, should we be looking in Wales at a narrower range of subjects?
“In view of the fact that employers have concerns about some vocational qualifications, should we also narrow the range of vocational qualifications that are taught from 14-19, ensuring there is adequate time for basic skills?
“Is it acceptable that we have subjects taught by teachers not qualified in those subjects? Isn’t it time that we focused on quality and rigour, rather than an apparent choice which simply doesn’t meet the real needs of learners but panders to the alphabet’s soup of qualifications set up by the private examination boards?
“Isn’t it better to have clarity on the academic and vocational routes so that there is no ambiguity for those performing the important roles of Learning Coaches and those from Careers Wales giving advice?
“I am not going to leap to conclusions on this, but I think we need a wide national debate.
“We set out in the Learning and Skills Measure ambitious plans for a real choice for learners, intended to achieve a strategic shift in the range of vocational courses taught.
“We have achieved that strategic shift. But I think we need to ask what kind of choice should we offer? Are we giving the best advice? Are we trying to cover too much? Are we failing in the basics because of the drive for a wider points score?
“I want to be clear, I am not making this call with a view to being prescriptive about particular subject areas. I am simply starting a much-needed debate on the things that matter for our young people – a debate to see what employers and universities want in the years ahead.”
