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Support for Tomlinson report

An EAL product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 26, 2004

EAL supports the proposals of the Tomlinson report to strengthen the vocational offer to 14-19 year olds and to improve the status, relevance and quality of vocational learning.

EAL, leading awarding body for the engineering and technology sector, supports the proposals of the Tomlinson report to strengthen the vocational offer to 14-19 year olds and to improve the status, relevance and quality of vocational learning.

The awarding body backs the proposed move towards a diploma-based framework where vocational, academic and mixed options will have equal value and currency.

It also welcomes the report's call for collaboration between schools, colleges, training providers and employers to ensure all learners have access to a range of vocational options.

EAL Managing Director, Elizabeth Bonfield, said: "We believe that incorporating into the diploma framework high quality vocational programmes with relevant work placements will increase the attractiveness of the vocational route to students".

"Vocational programmes need to be designed with the involvement of employers and education institutions to allow progression into employment and further and higher education".

"We need to remove the perceived divide which currently exists between academic and vocational pathways by ensuring that the common requirements for content, volume and level of study raise the currency and status of vocational learning".

"But at the same time we must continue to recognise the distinctive nature of vocational learning and ensure it is valued in its own right".

EAL has recently increased its range of qualifications by adding vocationally related qualifications (VRQs) at Levels 1, 2 and 3 to its portfolio.

VRQs can provide underpinning knowledge and understanding for work-based NVQs and may be delivered in schools, colleges, training centres or in the workplace.

Its new Level 1 VRQ in engineering and technology lends itself to education/industry partnerships and use in 14-16 youth apprenticeships.

A number of EAL's approved centres are working in partnership with schools to offer vocational options alongside the National Curriculum with considerable success.

Outcomes have included NVQ certificates and unit credits, the smooth progression of students into engineering apprenticeships and onto full-time engineering courses.

Bonfield shares the Tomlinson working group's concern that vocational options should only be delivered where appropriate facilities and teacher/trainer expertise exist.

Assessment must also be fit for purpose.

She commented: "If specialised diplomas are to be linked with the national occupational standards and incorporate elements of NVQs they must be assessed in the workplace or a credibly similar environment".

"The Government must not sacrifice rigour in the assessment process or suitability of teaching resources for the sake of extending vocational provision".

"However, providers with good physical resources and expertise are well placed to work with schools to deliver and assess high quality vocational learning".

"EAL, with its nationwide network of centres, looks forward to playing its part in the evolution of our 14-19 educational system".