Commenting on Michael Gove’s announcement to hold an independent review of vocational education, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said;

“Attempting to separate ‘technical’ or ‘vocational’ education from mainstream schools will lead to a two tier system with technical schools being seen as the poor cousin. It is not acceptable that, at the age of 14, pupils may be forced into specific learning routes which could restrict their future education or career choices.

“The introduction of numerous different qualifications alongside the proposals to create University Technical Colleges (UTCs) is socially divisive and the degree to which 14 – 19 education will be understood and valued by parents, pupils and employers will vary enormously.
 
“The Government should save itself time and money and revisit the proposals put forward by Tomlinson and the NUT which argues for a single overarching qualification that embraces all young people and does not label them as one thing or another at such a young age”.