In association with WJEC & Welsh Government
The widening education attainment gap between Wales and England for 14 to 16 year olds and Welsh pupils’ relatively low PISA scores have been the cause of much soul searching. Yet the picture is a more complex one than these simple comparisons might suggest. The most recent data show Welsh pupils’ performance in GCSEs to be equivalent to that across the border. It is in vocational qualifications that England is outperforming Wales.
This conference will address questions critical to the development of Welsh vocational provision. Is there/should there be a distinctive vocational educational system in Wales? How effective is the current system? What is the scope for improving it?
What are our aspirations for those pupils who choose to follow a vocational path? How do we ensure that vocational qualifications are sufficiently robust to provide young people with the necessary skills for the next stage in their lives? How can we ensure parity of esteem between vocational and academic subjects and qualifications? How do we make the necessary connections between the end of compulsory education and further education or employment?
With a major Review of Qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds now underway, there is no better time to debate the future of vocational education in Wales.
Conference structure
The morning session will consist of a series of presentations covering current policy and practice, as well as aspirations for the future of vocational provision. The afternoon will provide delegates with an opportunity to discuss their own ambitions, questions and proposals.
Who should attend?
Representatives of schools and further education colleges, parent governors, policy makers and employers are all encouraged to attend.
We particularly encourage schools to bring parent governor representatives to the event, and invite companies and employer organisations to share their perspectives on the future structure of vocational education.