Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
In June 2022 I asked Sharron Lusher to lead a review of the vocational qualifications landscape in Wales.
Sharron is a well-respected ex-principal of Pembrokeshire College and, prior to chairing the review, was a member of Qualifications Wales’ Board, with direct experience of supporting learners undertaking post-compulsory learning. The review has been independent of Government.
Supported by a Steering Group consisting of senior leaders from the education and business sectors, Sharron has submitted a detailed and comprehensive report to me, containing 33 recommendations. I thank Sharron and the Steering Group for all the hard work and effort that has gone into the report.
I have today published the report. Members can access a copy here:
Review of vocational qualifications in Wales: report
Commissioning the review was part of this Government’s commitment to work with Plaid Cymru, as part of the co-operation agreement, to realise our joint ambitions to reform qualifications in Wales. It was also driven by the need to be clear about the purpose of vocational qualifications and assess how well the current offer in Wales is serving the needs of learners and the wider community.
I welcome the report and its assessment of vocational qualifications in Wales. The recommendations will need further and more detailed consideration and I have asked my officials to consider each recommendation in detail, including resource and budget implications.
It is clear that collaborative working is key to many, if not all, of these recommendations. This Government cannot, and should not, look to deliver these in isolation. Some of the report’s recommendations fall to other organisations – for example, Qualifications Wales and the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER). Whilst I cannot speak or commit on behalf of other organisations, this Government will continue to work collaboratively across the sector and have relevant conversations with these bodies about what is achievable. There is also cross-over and synergy between the findings of Hefin David’s report, Transitions to Employment, and this review’s recommendations that we will explore further.
I will provide a further update on the recommendations to Members in due course.