Schools refusing to let colleges speak to students about apprenticeships and technical qualifications, think tank says

'Young people should be free to choose the course that best reflects their aspirations'

Schools have a legal requirement to host colleges and companies pushing technical qualifications and apprenticeships (Getty)

Schools are stopping colleges and employers from speaking to pupils about alternatives to A-levels, a think tank has found.

Students are being given limited access to people pushing vocational courses amid concerns about losing pupil funding as well as negative attitude towards the qualifications, further education providers say.

Since January last year, schools have been legally required to give colleges and companies an opportunity to speak to students about technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

But almost two in three (63 per cent) schools in England have flouted their duty under the Baker clause, according to a poll by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

A separate survey of further education providers – which include colleges and companies – also revealed that 70 per cent of them found it difficult to access local schools to talk about their offer.

The IPPR think tank is calling on Ofsted to intervene when schools are not following the rules.

Dean Hochlaf, IPPR researcher, said: "There is widespread evidence that schools are not meeting very basic statutory requirements to let their students hear from a variety of providers.

"Young people should be free – and encouraged – to choose the course that best reflects their ambitions and aspirations.

"To do this, they need to understand the opportunities that lie ahead as well as the variety of high-quality options available locally.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is important to understand that the Baker clause is only one of a large number of requirements that schools have to juggle and it isn’t surprising if some haven’t jumped through this hoop.”

Mr Barton said the level of government funding was “inadequate” to be able to provide pupils with information, advice and guidance on a full range of careers and training routes.

“The last thing that schools need is another measure for Ofsted inspections on top of the existing 79-page inspection handbook,” he added.