Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Vocational Alternatives to A-levels

Monday 24 October 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps include reforming technical education to ensure access to high-quality vocational options for post-16 students.
  • Government investments in T-levels, apprenticeships, skills boot camps, and free courses aim to address skills needs and economic growth.
  • The Government is working to increase awareness of green job opportunities through T-levels, apprenticeships, and higher technical qualifications.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jack Brereton Con
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the lack of high-quality vocational alternatives to A-levels for students.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that students have access to high-quality vocational alternatives to A-levels?

Answer from Andrea Jenkyns

We are reforming technical education to ensure that all post-16 students have access to technical options that support progression and meet employers' needs. We have introduced T-levels, a new high-quality programme designed with employers that will give learners the knowledge and experience needed for skilled employment and further study, including higher education or higher apprenticeships.

Answered
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Q2 Jack Brereton Con
Education Employment Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the difficulty businesses face in filling certain vacancies and seeks ways to incentivise vocational skills.

Question

We have some fantastic creative and manufacturing industries in Stoke-on-Trent, but many of these industries say to me that they often struggle to fill certain vacancies. Will my hon. Friend look at what more we can do to help to incentivise vocational skills to get our economy growing?

Answer from Andrea Jenkyns

I know this is of great importance to my hon. Friend. Many different sectors face skills needs and challenges, which is why we are investing in skills through T-levels, apprenticeships, skills boot camps and free courses for jobs, giving people of all ages the opportunity to obtain the skills that industries like and that support economic growth.

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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Education Economy Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about young people not knowing about green jobs and pathways into them.

Question

There is potentially a huge number of good green jobs for young people to go into, such as retrofitting homes, installing heat pumps and restoring wetlands, but many young people do not know these jobs exist, let alone the pathways to get into them. What are the Government doing to open their eyes to these opportunities?

Answer from Andrea Jenkyns

I thank the hon. Lady for her important question. I am proud of the Government's record of investing in green jobs through T-levels, apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications and boot camps. Never before have there been so many opportunities to engage with green industries. We are also working closely with these industries to make sure they are at the heart of what we do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for informing young people about pathways into green jobs was not addressed.

How: Working Closely With Industries

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Q4 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about delayed results for BTEC students and the lack of transparency.

Question

The most popular high-quality vocational qualifications currently offered at level 3 are BTECs. Last week, the Education Committee heard evidence about the 6,500 level 3 students and 7,500 level 2 students whose results were delayed this year. The right hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) rightly criticised the failure to reveal the number of students affected at the time and all the uncertainty that caused. When did the Minister first know how many students had not received their results? Why did she not insist that the number be made public?

Answer from Andrea Jenkyns

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am a strong proponent of BTECs, having been a BTEC girl myself. The Department informed us, and we acted on that straightaway. I will have to get back to him with the exact date. Looking at the whole landscape, I assure him that it has been simplified and that, most importantly, these courses lead to good outcomes for students, ensuring they have a bright future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about the date was not directly addressed; only promised in follow-up.

How: Will Have To Get Back, Looking At The Whole Landscape

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