V for victory?

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson strikes again.

Her latest wheeze is to introduce ‘V Levels’, which the government said will: “replace many existing qualifications, simplifying the current system and open up more high-quality routes for young people.

“These reforms will make sure that whatever a student’s interests or strengths, whether academic, technical, or vocational, there’s a clear, high-quality path for them.”

Sounds great.

But rather than simplify the system, it will only complicate it.

We already have BTECs and T Level qualifications for post-16 education. The government says introducing V-Levels from 2027 will make things more flexible – but it won’t.

This is a wasted opportunity. We should base our system on the German model.

This is what should be done. And it is simple.

Years 10-11 in school:

Create new V-Levels for children who are more vocationally orientated – those less academic and more practical youngsters. Around 70 per cent should follow this pathway

Keep GCSEs for the rest, the more academically orientated.

Post-16

T-Levels should be there for those who want to continue with the vocational path to a higher level – potentially apprenticeships or degree apprenticeships.

A’ Levels should remain for those who are more academic – a pathway to university.

University ought to be for the academically-orientated – around 25 to 30 per cent of school leavers.

Why is the government confusing the situation even more?

My idea simplifies it and meets the needs of children across the educational field.

But there is one other aspect that needs addressing. And that is the perception of vocational routes.

Snobbery remains.

Some look down on those who don’t go to university, but there should be no difference between the celebration of the academically gifted and the vocationally gifted.

ends