ATL

Rise in vocational qualifications 'contributing to GCSE result rise'

01 September 2010

The increase in so-called vocational qualifications being offered in schools is one of the factors contributing the GCSE grade rises, it has been claimed.

According to independent thinktank Civitas, students are being led away from traditional subjects to learn how to serve drinks in Hospitality BTEC Firsts and identify airport facilities in Travel and Tourism OCR Nationals.

Students are even being entered for lower-level versions of compulsory traditional subjects such as science, the organisation noted.

One London-based teacher told Civitas that bright students are never encouraged to take vocational qualifications.

"To give an example there was a really bright girl last year who is a fantastic cricketer who really wanted to do BTEC Sport because of the coaching and hands on element. She wasn't allowed to because the school wanted her to do academic subjects," she said.

The Daily Telegraph reported last week that an increasing number of private schools are now offering International GCSEs, which are generally viewed as a more rigorous qualification.