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ATL comment on rating of vocational qualifications
31 January 2012
Adrian Prandle, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: "It is sad but true that league tables determine what schools do. In saying that some qualifications will not be included in the tables, the government is effectively signing their death warrant.
"It is essential that we have an education system which serves all young people, offering them all a fair chance at learning, developing and succeeding. People learn in different ways and vocational qualifications are important for developing the skills that individuals, society and the economy needs.
"The government is perpetuating a false hierarchy between vocational and academic study. We should be encouraging all young people to gain both vocational and academic skills rather than shoehorning all pupils down the same narrow path."
Notes to editors
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.