‘Putting vocational education on same footing as academic long overdue’

The new qualification – the Advanced British Standard – for 16- to 19-year-olds aims to put technical and academic education on an equal footing with every student studying some form of maths and English to age 18.

It means students will take a larger number of subjects at both ‘major’ and ‘minor’ level with most studying a minimum of five subjects at different levels – for example, three majors alongside two minors.

Furthermore, it will mean students can take a mixture of technical and academic subjects, which the Government claimed will mean they have more flexibility about their future career options.

Coming to fruition

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said putting vocational education on the same footing as academic was long overdue.

She added: “Sectors like hospitality will stand to benefit when this plan comes to fruition. With T-Levels being pinpointed as playing a major role in the creation of the new Advanced British Standard, there needs to be rapid development of the hospitality and tourism T-Levels.

“This is essential to ensuring our sector is adequately equipped to benefit from the new system.

“However, this is a long-term ambition that will take time and there remains the need for short-term action."

Levy reform

She said: “In particular, reform of the apprenticeship levy to give businesses more control of the funding and flexibility of where it is spent.”

Nicholls also commented on the Government’s decision to axe HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester.

She added: “It is very disappointing a major infrastructure project like HS2 is being scrapped but investment in transport across the north of England, connecting cities and improving transport links, is positive.

“This investment will benefit commuters and leisure travellers alike. It is important the country is as interconnected as possible and infrastructure projects remain under constant review.”