Letter: In brief 1

The point I made to the select committee ("HE 'overfishing a small pool'", THES , November 16) was about extra funding that might become available. I did not suggest that money should be transferred from higher to further education.

The UK's further education and vocational sectors have been relatively unregarded. Our performance compared with other European countries at NVQ levels 2 and 3 is weak, whereas our higher education performance is competitive.

There is little prospect of the 2010 target of 50 per cent of students entering higher education unless we make a determined effort to improve, say, achievement levels at national vocational qualifications level 3, which in England is just 51 per cent.

Bryan Sanderson
Chairman
Learning and Skills Council