Results of a survey conducted by The Edge Foundation of 1,199 Teachers and 1,130 parents were released this week revealing a need to raise awareness and promote the value of vocational learning.
A massive 56% of teachers said that their knowledge of vocational learning was ‘poor’. The Edge Foundation claimed this to be “a real concern given young people rely on teachers for informed and impartial careers advice”. In addition to this the survey also revealed that only 8% said they have a poor understanding of university degrees.
Ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity for practical learning, through vocational courses and structures like school councils is essential for all students’ development. Giving teachers the support and training that they need to engage students in this different way of learning needs to be a priority for everyone involved in education.
A key element of this work is to overcome the pigeon-holing of students. Where the people on particular courses or involved with certain activities all fit a certain ‘type’ success will always be constrained. We see that the most dynamic school councils are those that involve students with different strengths, interests, friendship groups and experiences of school.
School councils also offer a great head start for students who decide to progress to vocational learning, as they would have already learned and practiced project development skills and the success of working within a team. The skills of problem-solving, analysis and research are equally valuable in academic subjects.
Daisy