Progression From Vocational And Applied Learning To Higher Education Across The UK
There are benefits to attaining higher level skills, both for individuals in terms of higher pay and rewards, more responsibility and greater job satisfaction, and for the economy in terms of increased productivity. Whilst the route from A Levels in England and Highers in Scotland to full time degree programmes is one that is well defined and well respected, the route from vocational and applied qualifications, including Apprenticeships, is less clear and one that far fewer individuals progress down.
There are two reasons to be concerned about this. The first is economic, the National Strategic Skills Audit for England shows that the greatest expansion in jobs has been and is forecast to be predominantly in high skills areas. The second reason is that as vocational qualifications and programmes are followed disproportionably by those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, better support for individuals on vocational pathways to achieve higher level skills should have a positive impact on social mobility.