New Vocationalism
At various times since WW II the issue of whether education is providing the right types of skills for the workplace has come under scrutiny

New Vocationalism This argument emerged again strongly in the
1980’s
Many 16-year-olds were ill-equipped for work
At higher educational level many were shunning areas like engineering and manufacturing
Britain was seen to be at a disadvantage with other countries
Vocational qualifications such as BTEC and City
& Guilds were seen as lower status qualifications
- and were more for post 16 students

New Vocationalism
Many felt that education had been in the hands of liberalists for too long and the emphasis on academic qualifications was crippling the economy

New Vocationalism
Vocational Education refers to industry-related studies at school and college
Vocational training refers to training in work or work-like situations

New Vocationalism
Examples of Vocational education
GNVQs were introduced – now named
Vocational A levels
NVQs were introduced usually for those in work to attend on day release etc
Curriculum 2000 brought the AS/A2 levels which are meant to be easily combined with vocational A levels

New Vocationalism
Examples of Vocational education

New Vocationalism
Examples of Vocational Training
1983 YTS (Youth Training Scheme) to give school leavers some ‘ on the job training ’
1990 YT (Youth Training) replaced YTS – more flexible.
1997 New Deal – all under 25 ’ s receiving benefits were required to take up a subsidised job or voluntary work or full time education/training

New Vocationalism
Criticisms Of New Vocationalism
Finn 1987
It provides cheap labour
Keeps wages low for young workers
Reduces politically embarrassing unemployment statistics
Removes young from the streets and therefore reduces crime

New Vocationalism
Criticisms Of New Vocationalism
Phil Cohen (1984) - the real purpose of New
Vocationalism is social control. To create good behaviour and discipline rather than work. Young people who refuse to take part are ‘punished’ by having benefits withdrawn
Rob Strathdee (2003) says it has continued to reproduce inequality by forcing WC and ethnic minority students onto courses that lead to low paid, low status jobs.

New Vocationalism
Criticisms Of New Vocationalism
Low Skills
The sorts of skills taught are only useful for low pay insecure jobs.
Employers abuse the system by treating it as a source of cheap labour
Few schemes develop into full time jobs

New Vocationalism
Criticisms Of New Vocationalism
Inequalities continue
NV just carries on the inequalities of the education system
NV courses and schemes are heavily populated by WC kids and ethnic minorities
Sex stereotyping is reinforced by NV schemes
– girls are often channelled into retail and hairdressing

• Introduce basics of New Right belief in Market Forces competition
• 1988 Education reform act introduced range of policies designed to improve standards:-
• Parental choice
• League Tables
• Ofsted
• Sats
• National Curriculum to govern what schools taught (standardised for more effective measurement of their efficiency)
• Vocationalism to provide skills
• For each policy provide evaluation and analysis by criticising the change and saying what implications it had for equality of opportunity in education.