Government plans to withdraw funding for applied general qualifications (AGQs), such as BTecs, threaten the pathways to employment for tens of thousands of students. The uptake of technical courses (T-levels) remains low, prompting concerns about reducing student choice in post-16 qualifications. The Protect Student Choice campaign warns that these changes could reverse progress in widening access to higher education and result in more young people being unemployed. The campaign calls for a curriculum review to recommend reversing the ban on AGQ diplomas.
Tens of thousands of students will be left without a suitable pathway to employment as a result of government plans for post-16 vocational courses, a report has said. The warning comes as the government plan to withdraw funding for a number of applied general qualifications (AGQs), such as BTecs. The uptake of the government's technical courses (T-levels) also remains low.
The Protect Student Choice campaign warned reducing student choice for post-16 qualifications risks reversing progress in widening access to higher education and it could lead to more young people not in employment.
The campaign, which includes organisations representing students and staff in colleges and schools, is calling on the curriculum and assessment review to recommend reversing the ban on AGQ diplomas and extended diplomas in T-level areas in its final report which is due to be published in the autumn.
AGQs are Level 3 qualifications, which include BTecs, for students who want to undertake a broad study of a specific vocational area.
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