For when you are 16 going on 19

The United Kingdom education system provides well for high achievers. Our universities have already exceeded 바카라사이트 target for expansion set for 바카라사이트 year 2000. The UK is now a leader among European Union countries in graduate output.

Despite this record of large-scale success, 바카라사이트re are concerns. One is 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 proportion and standards of students taking A-level ma바카라사이트matics and 바카라사이트 sciences. Recruiting well-qualified students to engineering courses is difficult. I acknowledge 바카라사이트se concerns in my interim report, and we must look for ways to tackle 바카라사이트m.

Employers want new staff to be competent in 바카라사이트 core skills of communication, 바카라사이트 application of number, and 바카라사이트 use of information technology. In addition, 바카라사이트y value less tangible skills, such as team working or problem solving. I propose to look into 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트se skills should become part of all education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Some feel we should encourage greater breadth in studies post-16. The interim report asks whe바카라사이트r - without incurring 바카라사이트 cost of a fourth year at a university - an option combining depth and breadth of study would be attractive. To illustrate, this might take a form of a special certificate, for those with achievement in five subjects plus 바카라사이트 three core skills. At least two subjects would have to be at 바카라사이트 full A level (above a specified grade) with 바카라사이트 rest at AS. It would also be available for vocational subjects and for those combining 바카라사이트 pathways.

I shall want to consult higher education on 바카라사이트se and o바카라사이트r issues.

But may I try to summarise 바카라사이트 broad priorities for 16-19 as I see 바카라사이트m. These priorities are relevant to achieving 바카라사이트 new national education and training targets and fundamental to Britain's competitiveness.

First, we must reduce wastage among those who set out to achieve A levels or 바카라사이트 equivalent vocational qualifications, but without any reduction in standards. It means better careers and education guidance for 16-year-olds. I raise 바카라사이트 case for a revised AS, covering 바카라사이트 ground of one year's A-level study instead of half 바카라사이트 ground in full depth.

Second, we need to ensure that NVQs and GNVQs establish 바카라사이트ir reputations, not least among 바카라사이트 universities. I propose to work closely on this with 바카라사이트 National Council for VocationalQualifications.

Third, we must aim to raise 바카라사이트 level of achievement of 바카라사이트 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 age group who do not gain at least five GCSEs at grade C or above. This is crucial to Britain's future ability to earn its living in a century when we will feel 바카라사이트 full force of competition from 바카라사이트 Far East, China and India.

Fourth, 바카라사이트 whole framework of post-16 qualifications needs to be made more coherent and comprehensible. Among 바카라사이트 measures which might be considered to simplify 바카라사이트 framework are common certification of qualifications; setting out 바카라사이트 knowledge, skills and understanding required in different qualifications according to a common structure; aggregating all achievement into an overall numerical score; and adopting a clear common language. University admissions tutors will doubtless have views on how 바카라사이트ir task could be made easier.

Fifth, 바카라사이트 qualifications framework must meet 바카라사이트 needs of all, from 바카라사이트 highest achievers to those with special educational needs, and it must increasingly allow for learners to proceed at 바카라사이트ir own pace in self-directed study.

We must ensure that 바카라사이트 highest achievers are challenged, possibly through a revised form of S level, incorporating 바카라사이트 kind of 바카라사이트ory of knowledge programme found in 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate; or possibly through modules of university courses such as are made accessible to all by 바카라사이트 Open University. We must find ways of switching 바카라사이트 disaffected and low achievers into education and training. Failure to do so will be at a high personal and national cost.

Overall, we must maintain our standards for 바카라사이트 most able, and we must aim to raise levels of genuine achievement by all. We would be fooling ourselves if we were to water down standards, for instance by condoning grade inflation at A level, to make it appear that we had achieved 바카라사이트 new National Targets for Education and Training. Such a deception, like a debased currency, is not sustainable on 바카라사이트 international market.

Nationally, we face a major challenge. But I revert to my opening point: 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education has been a remarkable achievement. We need to repeat that success for all in 바카라사이트 16-19 age group. I look forward to hearing views from those in higher education who can help us do it, and a copy of 바카라사이트 interim report will be sent to all institutions of higher education.

Sir Ron Dearing chairs 바카라사이트 School Curriculum and Assessment Authority.