MIDDLE CLASS PARENTS HAVE SNOBBISH AND OUTDATED ATTITUDES TO VOCATIONAL STUDIES

Middle class parents have “snobbish” and “outdated” attitudes towards vocational studies, the Education Secretary has said.

Damian Hinds urged schools to do more to promote technical training as an option for 18-year-olds, rather than only encouraging them to apply for university.  

He said that vocational courses and apprenticeships need to be presented in a more positive light to youngsters, so that bright and ambitious school-leavers do not see a degree as the only option.

Asked whether middle class parents are opposed to their children taking technical courses, Mr Hinds said: “I think we’ve all come across examples of snobbery towards vocational routes.”

He added: “There are still some outdated attitudes - partly because people aren’t necessarily aware of how some industries have evolved and therefore how technical training and education and certification has evolved.”  

Mr Hinds, who is on a fact finding mission to Germany and the Netherlands this week

to learn about their technical qualifications, added that people in the UK are now starting to see that non-academic pathways are “equally valid”.

Philip Hammond unveiled his “radical” plans to put technical education on an equal footing with academic studies in his Budget last March.

The current system, where students have to pick from 13,000 different qualifications, will be replaced with just 15 standalone courses.