REPRESENTATIVES from East Lancashire schools, colleges, training providers and employers were amongst the delegates at a conference in Burnley on the Government's radical new plans to reform 14-19 education.
It was organised by the Learning and Skills Council, Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Ministers want to apply the biggest restructuring ever to post-14 education.
And they are proposing to:
Raise the achievement of everyone by the age of 19, with GCSEs as a progress check along the way
Increase the challenge at A-level by incorporating more demanding 'distinction' questions into both vocational and academic subjects, so that the highest achievers can be given full recognition
Increase flexibility to ensure that individual students can learn at a pace which is right for them, with high achievers on a fast track
Free up the curriculum with young people post-14 able to pursue individually-focused programmes -- although maths, English, ICT and science will remain compulsory
Build parity of status between vocational and academic GCSEs and A-levels
Introduce a matriculation diploma which recognises achievement at 19 across a range of disciplines
The Government is seeking feedback across the country on its proposals.
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