§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action his Department is taking to provide vocational training courses in building and allied trades for non-academic school leavers; and if he will make a statement. [130643]
§ Mr. WicksThe Government have made a substantial investment in vocational training for young people who have decided not to continue in learning through the academic route. Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships provide young people with a high quality work-based route to learning in over 80 sectors of industry and business. Construction is one of the more popular with some 9,200 Advanced and 4,200 Foundation Modern Apprentices in training. In order to build on the strong foundations that Modern Apprenticeships have developed we are currently consulting on how to introduce further measures which will create an apprenticeship framework which better meets the needs of the individuals and businesses; is broader and more coherent than before; offers even greater opportunities for progression including HE; secures the highest possible standards; and is part of a coherent vocational learning system.
Students in schools and colleges can take Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced GNVQs (to be known as vocational A levels) in subjects such as Art and Design, Business, Construction and the Built Environment, and Health and Social Care. These qualifications can lead on to employment, higher education or further study such as Modern Apprenticeships.
From 2002 "vocational GCSEs" will replace the current Foundation, Intermediate and Part One GNVQs and will be available for 14 to 16-year-olds in schools, as well as students in colleges, to study.