Schools to promote vocations

The move promises flexibility

The first minister has pledged to free up student choice through a major shake-up of the comprehensive education system.

Jack McConnell said he wanted to remove the "strait-jacket of limited choice".

He said reforms would ensure pupils were not be "forced" to follow an academic route, instead being offered vocational courses at further education (FE) colleges.

It is hoped the measures could also help tackle Scotland's severe shortage of skilled workers, including plumbers, joiners and electricians.

We must not force another generation of young people into a uniformity of academic choices Jack McConnell First minister

Mr McConnell will unveil the plans at a national education conference in Glasgow.

He will tell delegates: "There is no room in Scotland for ordinary comprehensives. There is no such thing as an ordinary child - only extraordinary ones.

"Scotland needs a decisive shift away from a strait-jacket of limited choice for young teenagers.

"We must not force another generation of young people into a uniformity of academic choices, where those with a certain type of academic ability made it and those who didn't saw their options fall away."

'Win-win situation'

He said head teachers should be allowed to offer pupils vocational courses in further education (FE) colleges.

He said: "This will have immediate benefits. It will expose more young people in their early teens to work experience.

"It will inspire boys in particular of the opportunities that exist in the world of work, just at a time when their interest can wane within the school."

Mr McConnell wants a modern system

He added: "This is a win-win situation for all. Scotland has a shortage of trades and technical workers, and a cohort of teenagers who don't want to take the academic route.

"This will deliver the quality training and skills that are needed within the modern economy and it will provide a meaningful choice for the young people who will benefit."

About 150 delegates from across Scotland, including head teachers and principal teachers, were attending the Raising Achievement for All national conference.

The Scottish National Party welcomed the move, but said it came as the executive had instructed colleges to cap the amount they spend on vocational training for students of school age.

"It seems as though the first minister wants to open the door for vocational education at the same time as his executive is slamming the door shut on college places," said SNP education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop.

"If the Scottish Executive is serious about opening up vocational training to young people then we should expect to see changes sooner rather than later."

The executive announced a review of the role FE colleges can play for schoolchildren last month.

That followed a commitment in the Labour-Liberal Democrat partnership agreement that 14 to 16-year-olds should be allowed to take vocational courses at FE colleges even though they were still at school.