Commenting on the Government’s announcement on post 16 education, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The National Education Union welcomes today’s announcement as a significant step forward for vocational education. For too long, the post-16 qualifications framework has lacked coherence and clarity. While students following academic routes have benefited from a clear and structured pathway, those pursuing vocational options have too often faced a confusing and under-resourced system. These reforms present an important opportunity to deliver greater fairness, consistency and quality for all learners.
"The government is right to have listened to teachers and school leaders who have long highlighted that repeatedly forcing students to resit English and maths GCSEs is both demoralising and ineffective. We now have the chance to build a system that engages every student, values a broad range of skills, and properly recognises their achievements."
"To truly revitalise post-16 education, the government must also address the chronic issue of low pay among post-16 teachers and lecturers. Years of underinvestment have led to widespread recruitment and retention difficulties, leaving too many vacancies unfilled. Ensuring that staff are properly valued and fairly rewarded is essential if these reforms are to succeed."