UCU responds to Education Select Committee report on reform of post-16 education

In a report published by the Education Select Committee, MPs have condemned plans to withdraw funding for BTECs and raised concerns about the feasibility of scaling up T-levels and restrictions on student choice.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our union, and others in the sector, have been calling on the government to rethink its plan to cut funding for established courses such as BTECs whist at the same time rushing into the rollout of T-levels. I welcome calls from the Education Select Committee to pause the current shakeup; pushing ahead with the government's plans would be likely to make the current skills shortage worse.

'Scrapping BTECs would shut down a key entry route into higher education for those that don't take A levels. This will be disastrous for widening participation, as Black and Asian students are more likely to use BTECs to get into university, as are students from working class backgrounds.  Ministers should take on board the finding of this report, stop these hasty and unhelpful reforms, invest in the sector and let staff get on with the job of teaching their students.'