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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Most GCSE equivalents axed from school league tables | Most GCSE equivalents axed from school league tables |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter | By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter |
| Ministers have cut the value of more than 3,100 vocational qualifications, ending their recognition in England's school league tables. | Ministers have cut the value of more than 3,100 vocational qualifications, ending their recognition in England's school league tables. |
| Courses such as a diploma in horse care can be worth the same as four GCSEs. | Courses such as a diploma in horse care can be worth the same as four GCSEs. |
| The government says this has created "perverse incentives" for schools to offer them and boost their position. | The government says this has created "perverse incentives" for schools to offer them and boost their position. |
| So from 2014, only 70 "equivalents" will count in the tables' headline GCSE measure and on a like-for-like basis with GCSEs. | |
| The move could make schools less likely to continue to offer such qualifications, and the government has instructed them to wait for its final list before changing their timetables for September 2012. | The move could make schools less likely to continue to offer such qualifications, and the government has instructed them to wait for its final list before changing their timetables for September 2012. |
| Other examples of courses that will not be included in future league tables are the level 1 certificate in practical office skills; the BTec level 2 extended certificate in fish husbandry; and the level 2 certificate in nail technology services, all currently worth two GCSEs. | |
| Some of those that will still count include a number of BTecs and OCR Nationals in performing arts, sport, health and social care, media, music and engineering. | |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove said the changes would extend opportunity because only qualifications which had demonstrated rigour, and had track records of taking young people into good jobs or university, would count in the future. | Education Secretary Michael Gove said the changes would extend opportunity because only qualifications which had demonstrated rigour, and had track records of taking young people into good jobs or university, would count in the future. |
| The shake-up comes after a review of vocational qualifications for the government by Prof Alison Wolf, which suggested schools had been tempted to teach qualifications that attract the most points in school performance tables. | The shake-up comes after a review of vocational qualifications for the government by Prof Alison Wolf, which suggested schools had been tempted to teach qualifications that attract the most points in school performance tables. |
| This had meant students had been steered into notching up qualifications which may not help them into work or higher education, she suggested. | This had meant students had been steered into notching up qualifications which may not help them into work or higher education, she suggested. |
| Mr Gove said: "The weaknesses in our current system were laid bare by Prof Wolf's incisive and far-reaching review. The changes we are making will take time, but will transform the lives of young people. | Mr Gove said: "The weaknesses in our current system were laid bare by Prof Wolf's incisive and far-reaching review. The changes we are making will take time, but will transform the lives of young people. |
| "For too long the system has been devalued by attempts to pretend that all qualifications are intrinsically the same. Young people have taken courses that have led nowhere." | "For too long the system has been devalued by attempts to pretend that all qualifications are intrinsically the same. Young people have taken courses that have led nowhere." |
| 'Stimulating' | 'Stimulating' |
| But many who took part in the consultation on the issue feared the new measures may lead schools to only offer qualifications that could be included in performance tables. | But many who took part in the consultation on the issue feared the new measures may lead schools to only offer qualifications that could be included in performance tables. |
| Others feared the move might undervalue vocational qualifications altogether and have a negative impact upon disengaged young people who are often encouraged by such courses. | Others feared the move might undervalue vocational qualifications altogether and have a negative impact upon disengaged young people who are often encouraged by such courses. |
| Prof Wolf said she hoped the proposed shortlist would give "good vocational qualifications exactly the same status as any other qualifications". | |
| "People were doing lots of qualifications which were getting league points for their schools but which, when they went out into the labour market or when they went to college, they found actually nobody valued. | |
| "So we were essentially lying to kids and that's a terrible thing to do." | |
| As well as the 70 equivalents that will count towards the school's five good GCSE grades including English and maths, a further 55 will be valid for other league table measures. | As well as the 70 equivalents that will count towards the school's five good GCSE grades including English and maths, a further 55 will be valid for other league table measures. |
| However, the DfE will be reviewing the majority of qualifications to ensure they meet the new standards after 2014. | However, the DfE will be reviewing the majority of qualifications to ensure they meet the new standards after 2014. |