§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to upgrade the standards and status of vocational education. [21813]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe White Paper "Schools: achieving success" sets out our plans to make available high quality vocational options to all students from the age of 14, which are widely recognised and offer the opportunity of entry to higher education. We have introduced vocational A levels, are reforming and extending modern apprenticeships and are introducing foundation degrees. The new GCSEs in vocational subjects to be available from September 2002 will provide a qualification of the same standard as academic GCSEs. A forthcoming consultation paper on the 14–19 education phase will address how best to break down the traditional prejudice against vocational education, and to enable more students to pursue vocational options.