§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department is taking to encourage stronger links between schools and further education colleges in order to widen opportunities for 14 to 16-year-olds to take up vocational courses; and if he will make a statement. [144039]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 11 January 2001]: The Government are committed to creating high-quality vocational opportunities for all 14 to 16-year-olds who would benefit. Vocational qualifications including the Part One GNVQ can be taken alongside the National Curriculum at Key Stage 4, and where a pupil would benefit from extended work-related learning, disapplication from some subjects of the National Curriculum is available. The Government strongly support partnerships between schools and local further education colleges as these links can offer an efficient and effective means of providing these learning opportunities. We are supporting these measures through the Standards Fund and through direct funding of local projects. In addition, the launch of the vocational GCSEs in September 2002 will boost links, as many colleges will be in a good position to offer the new qualifications to pupils in schools.