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	Vocational provision at key stage 4
	Investigating the costs and benefits of vocational qualifications at key stage 4
	Choosing which vocational qualifications to offer in key stage 4
	Using NVQs in key stage 4

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Vocational provision at key stage 4


		11-16 schools

		6th form schools

		Colleges

Background

The Green Paper, 14–19: Extending opportunities, raising standards (2002), set out proposals to increase curriculum flexibility and enable students to learn at an appropriate pace and pursue individually focused programmes to help them fulfil their potential.

In response to the Green Paper, the Increased Flexibility for 14- to 16-year-olds Programme was introduced in 2002. It aimed to enable many more students to take vocational qualifications (including the new GCSEs) and learn in colleges, with training providers or employers.

In autumn 2004, design and technology and modern foreign languages became entitlement subjects at key stage 4, offered to all students but no longer compulsory.

At the same time, work-related learning (including enterprise education) became a requirement for all students. Collaboration between schools and colleges was encouraged to broaden access to suitable vocational courses, including the Young Apprenticeship Programme.

Introduction to guidance

Ofsted and QCA have conducted recent investigations of vocational provision pre-16. They report general expansion of vocational provision but variability between schools in the extent and pace of change and the quality of vocational delivery. This research informed the creation of guidance for teachers and managers seeking to develop vocational provision pre-16. The guidance, developed in response to requests from schools, includes three sections.

Investigating the costs and benefits of vocational qualifications in key stage 4
This section will help curriculum managers develop the case for expanding vocational provision by looking at the different delivery options and their potential costs and benefits.
Choosing which vocational qualifications to offer in key stage 4
This section will help teachers identify appropriate vocational qualifications for students by suggesting factors to consider.
Using NVQs in key stage 4
This section outlines ways in which schools can work with colleges and training providers to deliver NVQs to key stage 4 students and provides guidance on how to identify opportunities for improving this provision.

The guidance is supplemented by case studies that provide examples of approaches to vocational learning taken by different schools.

Case studies

> Vocational provision at key stage 4
> Using NVQs at key stage 4

Also see

> Using qualifications and awards
> Research and evaluation feedback from QCA