Commenting on the announcement by Prime Minister at the Conservative Party
conference of plans to introduce a post-16 ‘Advanced British
Standard’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders, said:
“There is a great deal of merit in the idea of bringing technical
and academic qualifications into a single qualification of an
Advanced British Standard. We have long called for parity of
esteem between technical and academic pathways and we are pleased
that this is reflected in this announcement.
“We also support the principle of greater curriculum breadth in
post-16 education as the current system is too narrow – at least
partly because of previous government reforms which downgraded
the status of AS-levels.
“However, while the principles of these proposals are good, the
practicalities are daunting because of the severity of the
teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
“There aren’t enough teachers to teach existing subjects never
mind extend teaching on this scale.
“We’re not convinced that the Prime Minister’s plan for an early
career bonus payment for teachers in key shortage subjects in
schools and colleges will be anywhere near enough. Teacher
shortages are widespread and very problematic in many subjects.
This problem requires a much broader strategy to improve pay,
conditions and education funding.
“Without this commitment the Prime Minister’s plans for an
Advanced British Standard are likely to prove a pipedream.”
