Young people across South Yorkshire left with 'less subject choice' in post-16 education

That's according to new research by the National Foundation for Educational Research

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 14th Aug 2024

It's thought teenagers across South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire 'don't have as many subjects to choose from' - when it comes to post-16 education.

New research by the National Foundation for Educational Research suggests there's currently a less choice - compared to 20 years ago.

Pepe Di'iasio - who lives in Doncaster - is the General Secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders:

"Virtually everyone warned the previous government away from de-coupling AS level from A levels, and yet they went ahead and did it regardless.

"This has resulted in students generally taking 3 rather than 4 subjects at A levels at post-16.

"Also, the previous government's decision to scrap BTEC's and similar vocational qualifications will make matters even worse.

"All that we can hope at the moment is that the new government will reverse some of these decisions and enable greater options for young people going forward.

"This has all been compounded by teacher and funding shortages in schools, which's made it harder to preserve courses with smaller cohorts and offer the breadth that was previously available."

Pepe Di'iasio has previously worked in schools across South Yorkshire for the last 30 years.

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