§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking specifically to promote an understanding of manufacturing industry in schools and colleges.
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§ Mr. ForthThe national curriculum offers pupils opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills and understanding relevant to manufacturing industry as part of their preparation generally for later life and for more specialised courses and training after the age of 16. The National Curriculum Council has published guidance on how these can be delivered within an industrial context.
The Government is encouraging schools and colleges to make available to 16 to 19-year-olds high quality vocational qualifications to complement A levels. A range of national vocational qualifications is available covering the skills needed in specific manufacturing jobs. Broadly based general NVQs, which develop the skills, knowledge and understadnding underpinning a range of occupations in manufacuring industry, are being piloted in a number of schools and colleges with a view to making them widely available from next September.