vocational sixth forms

[Don Troooomp]

Problem - Too many kids leave school with nothing that'll help them in life.

Not everyone is suited to an academic education so would vocational sixth forms be a good move?
I see the advantages as:

Kids would get free training in work that interests them (and pays the bills)
Kids would get a flying start in life, no longer walking out of school for the last time with shit all that's going to help them find a job
An A level is fuck all use if you want to be a mechanic, a hairdresser, or an electrician, but 2 years of practical training would be handy.

Opinions?

 

[mauvais]

Isn't this just an apprenticeship?

 

[killer b]

There's loads of colleges do this already. The college up the road my 16 year old niece just started training to be a civil engineer at does vocational courses to be a mechanic, hairdresser or electrician (and loads more beside).

 

[ice-is-forming]

Problem - Too many kids leave school with nothing that'll help them in life.

Not everyone is suited to an academic education so would vocational sixth forms be a good move?
I see the advantages as:

Kids would get free training in work that interests them (and pays the bills)
Kids would get a flying start in life, no longer walking out of school for the last time with shit all that's going to help them find a job
An A level is fuck all use if you want to be a mechanic, a hairdresser, or an electrician, but 2 years of practical training would be handy.

Opinions?

They do this in Australia. I'm sure they already do it in the uk. At year 10/o level age you chose a path between great op and uni, or a certificate in a trade. You can always change your mind too.

My son left with a trade in horticulture and farming, became too ill to do this manual work and was still able to get into uni to do something else.

 

[Don Troooomp]

I had no idea these were available, it was just a wild thought that popped into my head when thinking of a mate's kid who left school last year with shit all to talk about and has sod all chance of finding decent work.

 

[killer b]

What you're describing has been a key aspect of what FE colleges provide since I was at school in the 90s, and presumably well before that. I imagine quality of education varies wildly from institution to institution, but it definitely exists.

 

[spanglechick]

Tbf, it generally only exists at sixth form level, and I think there’s mileage in allowing that focus from 14, as Icey describes in Oz.

 

[Don Troooomp]

What you're describing has been a key aspect of what FE colleges provide since I was at school in the 90s

I'm aware colleges do it, but I was thinking more of schools in the format of a sixth form, but based on vocational training.

 

[Edie]

Tbf, it generally only exists at sixth form level, and I think there’s mileage in allowing that focus from 14, as Icey describes in Oz.

It exists in Leeds from 14. You still have to do core subjects but the rest is technical education.

 

[Spandex]

I'm aware colleges do it, but I was thinking more of schools in the format of a sixth form, but based on vocational training.

Like killer b says you're describing FE colleges. Something like 2.9 million people aged 16+ (including adults) attend them already. My local one has a small number of courses for 14-16 year olds.

The reason school 6th forms can't provide all the vocational courses is because you need workshops for the carpentry, electrical, plumbing and motor vehicle students, salons for the hair & beauty students, etc and the specialist teachers to teach the courses. It wouldn't make practical or financial sense to have all of that in every school in the country when the provision already exists.

 

[killer b]

I'm aware colleges do it, but I was thinking more of schools in the format of a sixth form, but based on vocational training.

That's what an FE college is though.

I think there's plenty of arguments to be made to make FE better - more funding & resources, better accessibility and easier routes to vocational courses for kids who need them - I'm sure anyone who works in the sector would agree with that. But arguing to replicate their functions because you had a brainwave about something that it turns out already exists and has done for decades seems a bit of a waste of time tbh.

 

[sim667]

Not everyone is suited to an academic education so would vocational sixth forms be a good move?

So FE Colleges then.

I worked at one for years.

 

[Don Troooomp]

So FE Colleges then.

I worked at one for years.

I was thinking more of sixth forms at 16 rather than colleges at 18, but perhaps it's a shit idea or something I just didn't realise was happening.
I'm an old fucker so my brain could be addling.

 

[sim667]

I was thinking more of sixth forms at 16 rather than colleges at 18, but perhaps it's a shit idea or something I just didn't realise was happening.
I'm an old fucker so my brain could be addling.

Yeah its a bit of a mish mash...... Some school age children do go to FE Colleges for vocational studies either part time or full time already.

There's also vocational academies, which was part of the premise of setting up the academy system...... but to be frank, most academies are effectively just there to make profit for the managing organisation.