Same old 'academic is best'

First, thank you for all the positive responses regarding my last blog on Reform’s research. This week yet another think-tank piece of research with negative ‘vocational’ undertones hits the media – this time from Civitas, entitled “The Secrets of Academies’ Success”. Today’s Telegraph and BBC news online both cover the study stating that academies are aiming to gain good grades and higher rankings in league tables by entering pupils into “easier” vocational courses. It claims that pupils are being “short changed” by Academies who are not prioritising rigorous education. Here we go again!

The study looks at why Academies are succeeding (purely using GCSE equivalent results as the definition of success!), and the hypothesis is that Academies may be dropping academic subjects for ‘educationally weak but statistically strong’ vocational courses. The conclusion: “Nevertheless, even if the ‘gap hypothesis’ [basically that Academies’ league table results are boosted by students being entered for more vocational subjects] itself is spurious, the fact remains that any significant disparity between the headline figures of Academies and those of mainstream schools itself warrants investigation.” Wow – that was worth 69 pages then!

It’s so disappointing. By all means explore vocational and practical qualifications: Which are really good quality and which are not? Which contain strong hands-on learning and are taught by experts using appropriate facilities? And why have some proved so successful in terms of confidence and motivation as well as ‘exam results’? You only need to go and talk to young people doing Young Apprentices to find out about that one. And by all means explore the evidence relating to the quality of children’s education in Academies as opposed to other types of school - for example, do they include more enterprise and real-world learning than other schools? But please do not lend credence to the view that ‘academic is best’ in order to gain publicity.

What those such as Civitas consistently refuse to recognise publicly is that there are many talents and paths to success, and some young people do not enjoy "academic" styles of learning. Many young people are motivated by practical and vocational learning. As a result of being better engaged in their subjects, young people are more likely to do well in their exams – and are therefore more likely to stay in education or training after the age of 16.

Detailed analysis of successive cohorts from the Youth Cohort Study shows that the single biggest influence on post-16 decisions is the young person’s level of attainment in school. And staying on after 16 is important because research (such as the report prepared by Edcoms for the Department for Education and Skills) shows that people’s chances of success in adult life are greatly improved by developing skills and knowledge throughout their teenage years, not just up to 16.

Edge’s newly-opened academies in Nottingham and Milton Keynes provide a curriculum rich in practical, vocational and academic learning. They’re aiming to provide a broad range of options which we hope will enable all pupils to discover their individual strengths, gain recognition for their achievements and be inspired about their futures.

Practical and vocational qualifications provide a sound education route for many young people - and should not be repeatedly disparaged by those who like to suggest there is only one legitimate path to success …or who are simply looking for media coverage.