THE principal of St Helens College has backed new legislation to make young people more aware of apprenticeship opportunities.

Dr Jette Burford says she welcomes the Department for Education’s decision to introduce the measure whereby English schools must by law collaborate with further education and training providers.

The move followed concerns of a two-tiered system of careers advice in which apprenticeships and other technical and professional education routes were being offered only to the lowest-achieving pupils.

Dr Burford said: “We are extremely pleased with the Department for Education’s decision. Fair and impartial careers advice has been a key priority for us, and while we have a strong relationship with some schools, there are barriers put in place by others.”

She added: “One of the main obstacles that we face as a further education provider is the common misconception that A Levels are the only direct route to university.

"We spend a vast amount of time and resource, educating young people and their parents that this is not the case. We want to help young people make an informed choice about their future, whether it’s studying A Levels, technical and professional courses or apprenticeships.”

The Department of Education also announced a re-branding of the term ‘vocational’ to ‘technical and professional education (PTE)’, in a bid to raise the profile and understanding of this type of study route.

Jette added: “The re-branding is definitely a positive step in the right direction. The term ‘vocational’ is often met with confusion when students and parents look to differentiate between this way of learning and A Levels, often assuming that vocational is a lower level of learning, when in actual fact, it is equivalent and can still provide access to university.”

For more information on St Helens College and courses on offer, visit www.sthelens.ac.uk, call 0800 99 66 99 or email enquire@sthelens.ac.uk.