Prof. Alison Wolf (Professor of Public Sector Management at King’s College, London) was asked last year by the Secretary of State for Education to review how to improve vocational education for 14-19 year olds and thereby promote successful progression into the labour market and into higher education and training routes.

Her report (covered in a previous LGiU briefing) set out a very thorough analysis under three main headings: the social and labour market context; the educational context; and an audit of current provision. It made 27 recommendations, all addressed to the Department for Education (DfE) or to the DfE and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – though many have implications for providers, employers and other bodies. Secretary of State Michael Gove, in his Foreword, described the report as “brilliant and ground-breaking”, so it is no surprise that the Government has accepted all of its recommendations.