Author Description

A project examined how General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) are evolving and how far their development is in line with the objectives originally set out for them by the government. Information was collected from institutions in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which began offering GNVQs in 1993-94. The survey examined the five subject areas generally available to centers: art and design, business, health and social care, leisure and tourism, and manufacturing. Data were collected on Intermediate and Advanced GNVQs. Detailed responses were obtained from 156 centers and 1,103 students. Findings indicated major differences between schools, further education (FE) colleges, and sixth-form colleges in the sort of GNVQ programs offered. The most popular area of study was business. Centers chose to offer GNVQs because the government was perceived to be phasing out older awards. The rapid growth of GNVQ enrollments reflected a major change in young people's educational aspirations rather than any characteristics of the awards themselves. Very large numbers of GNVQ students aspired to higher education. The actual qualifications of the current Advanced GNVQ cohort differed substantially from those given by centers as their official entry criteria. Approaches to core skills teaching were extremely variable. GNVQs seemed to be evolving very much as an educational rather than vocational award. (Twenty-seven resources for further reading are listed.) (YLB)