Commenting on the Department for Education press release that a
consultation will be launched on Wednesday seeking views on plans
to reform post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below, Geoff
Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“We welcome the government’s review of skills at level 2 and
below. Thousands of students in schools and colleges use these
qualifications as stepping stones into employment,
apprenticeships and level 3 qualifications. We are looking
forward to receiving the views of our members but will be
extremely disappointed if the outcome of this consultation
follows the path of the recent level 3 review. In that review the
education sector came out overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining
BTECs, but this has been totally ignored by the government. We
hope that this consultation will not have similar pre-ordained
outcomes, especially as it is our most disadvantaged students who
are likely to fare worse.
“Level 2 qualifications are trusted by students, parents,
providers and employers alike and are not easily slotted into the
same academic, technical and alternative categories currently
being proposed for higher qualifications, including those at
level 3.
“We hope that any review will not lose the distinct nature of
level 2 qualifications for the third of students who need this
vital stepping stone.”
