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Term Dates for all schools until July 2013
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Dates when Year 6 pupils will sit the papers during 2011/12
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Find out which catchment school your child will go to
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Secondary/Post 16/All-age Schools
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Your guide to Higher Education funding
Response to media regarding Vocational Qualifications
Response to media re Vocational Qualifications 1-2-12
As highlighted on the Department's website (www.education.gg/KS4), we aim to ensure that all 14-16 year olds have the opportunity to pursue a course of study or training where they will learn in a style that suits them and in curriculum areas / training programmes that motivate them. Whatever route they are on, whether working in school, or at the College of Further Education, we want young people to be following nationally accredited qualifications and schemes that have real standing with students, parents, employers and the wider community, which will prepare them to progress into work, further education and higher education and which place a premium on good basic skills and the wider skills needed for employment.
We have a range of vocational qualifications on offer, some through links with the College of Further Education for students aged between 14 and 16 and some offered by individual schools as part of their Key stage 4 curriculum choices. A wider range of vocational qualifications is available through the College of Further Education at Post 16 level.
The use of vocational qualifications as GCSE equivalents is much more limited in Guernsey than in England. The courses typically offered here are BTEC qualifications such as Business Studies which at a higher level could give the equivalent of two good GCSE passes. As an example, an IT qualification which is offered in one of our schools would carry the equivalence of 4 GCSEs in England but in Guernsey would only be counted as one GCSE or two GCSEs if the student was going on to study an IT related course Post 16.
We believe that it is important that we continue to offer a range of vocational qualifications and that these can form part of a package that is best suited to meet the needs of individual pupils. Vocational qualifications have been used in Guernsey when they are felt to be the best qualification route available in a particular curriculum area and not to boost a school's position in terms of exam results.
