Vocational education and training into the new millennium

This chapter traces the history of post-16 education and training in the United Kingdom (UK) over the last 35 years. Comparing it unfavourably to other European countries as well as Japan and the United States, the author argues that there has been little evidence of coherent or long-term planning to cater for the needs of 16 to 19 year olds. Various attempts at reform are discussed: the Macfarlane Report (1980); the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) (1983); the Higginson Report (1988); the Education Reform Act (1988); the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) paper no. 1 (1990); the Final Dearing Report (1993) and Dearing's later review of post-16 qualifications (1996); and the New Labour policy on post-16 qualifications (1996). The author points out that one of the main problems faced by vocational education and training in the past has been the lack of a clear policy for the 16-19 year olds and calls for an organisational framework compatible with the new curriculum and assessment arrangements and a structure of cooperation.

The monograph from which this chapter is taken is indexed at TD/TNC 66.207 and selected chapters are indexed from TD/TNC 66.208 to TD/TNC 66.218.

This chapter traces the history of post-16 education and training in the United Kingdom (UK) over the last 35 years. Comparing it unfavourably to other European countries as well as Japan and the United States, the author argues that there has been little evidence of coherent or long-term planning to cater for the needs of 16 to 19 year olds. Various attempts at reform are discussed: the Macfarlane Report (1980); the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) (1983); the Higginson Report (1988); the Education Reform Act (1988); the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) ...  [+] Show more