According to a recent Ofsted study of 105 young people, teachers are being startlingly discouraging to clever students who are planning to leave school at 16. The Guardian reported that the Ofsted inspectors found 'several examples of bright young people who felt they had been derided by their teachers for wanting to progress to work-based learning, particularly in care or hairdressing, rather than stay on at school'.
Students told inspectors they were not given good advice when considering apprenticeships in hair salons, one student reporting that upon telling her head-teacher about her offer of an apprenticeship with a top hairstylist, the teacher replied: 'Why on earth do you want to waste your time doing that?'
So why is there a stigma surrounding the non-university route? Part of this negative attitude is because from 2014, the government will measure schools according to the proportion of their pupils who go to university. This has put teachers (as explained Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders) under 'very great pressure to focus on academic, rather than vocational subjects'. Therefore, due to the pressure to keep up statistics, talented students are continually being dissuaded from following the (non-academic) paths that they wish to embark on.
Teachers need to be sticking more to the Education Act of November 2011, which placed schools under a duty to give impartial careers advice to publics. This advice - according to the Act - should include information on all post-16 education and training options, including (for example) hairdressing apprenticeships.
Part of this Education Act emphasises work experience. These are particularly important for teenagers who are considering an apprenticeship, as they help students gain a greater understanding of a line of work, and can show them whether the work is for them or not. Work experience also enables employers to see whether those doing work experience are potentially hireable in the future. Thus, schools that are providing inadequate work experience help and placements are particularly letting down their pupils who wish to a follow a non-academic path and are hoping to have an apprenticeship in the future.
Kate, GRB Journalist
