Ofqual set to axe manufacturing qualifications 10 June 2014

Engineering and manufacturing GCSEs and A Levels could be axed under new proposals from England's exam regulator Ofqual.

Peter Finegold, head of education at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: "Engineering is already largely invisible in our schools and we need to be doing everything we can to attract young people into the profession.

"Engineering is so important that young people need be exposed to the subject, the nature of the discipline and what its name means. The UK is currently facing an alarming skills gap and we are not producing anywhere near the number of engineers that we need to."

Finegold said qualifications at all stages must be rigorous and respected and if these engineering GCSEs were falling short, then IMechE would welcome the decision to discontinue them and urge that students are encouraged to take valued STEM subjects en route to becoming engineers.

"But," he added, "underpinning the choices school students make is the quality of careers guidance they receive. Good careers advice is vitally important for young people.

"Young people do not easily see the relationship between design and technology and engineering, or indeed maths and science, so more needs to be done to able demonstrate the many benefits and opportunities within the engineering profession."

Ian Vallely

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Institution of Mechanical Engineers

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