First count to five: some principles for the reform of vocational qualifications in England

an article by David Raffe (University of Edinburgh, UK) published in Journal of Education and Work Volume 28 Number 2 (March 2015)

Abstract

Vocational qualifications in England are undergoing another round of reform.

This paper starts by reviewing the alleged weaknesses of English vocational qualifications, but argues that these do not necessarily establish a case for radical reform. The issue is not so much whether the system needs to be changed as the nature of the change that is needed.

The paper argues for a more deliberative and incremental approach and proposes five principles upon which this should be based.

These are the following:

• that the process of change is as important as the content of change;
• that institutions matter;
• that the purposes of reform need to be clear, consistent and realistic;
• that reforms should help to create a more unified qualifications system; and
• that the interests of the UK’s other home countries should be considered.

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