Dropout fears as deadline shortens

Further education college heads have warned that moves to publish "vocational A-level" results alongside traditional A levels could lead to more students dropping out.

Awarding bodies for advanced General National Vocational Qualifications have shortened the deadline for completing portfolios to meet the tighter timetable for publishing GNVQ results.

Students have a month less to complete most of their portfolio work, after which they face a series of multiple-choice tests.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and government officials have been pressing for GNVQ results to come out with A levels to help promote the vocational route to higher education and employment. The grading process has also been standardised as part of the Curriculum 2000 reorganisation in schools and colleges.

The awarding bodies say this must mean tighter coursework schedules so they can process portfolio submissions, which make up most of the advanced GNVQ marks, quickly enough to get results out alongside A levels.

But the Association of Colleges says many of its members are concerned that the changes will "turn off" GNVQ students, most of whom have chosen the vocational route because they enjoy coursework and perform less well in exams.

Maggie Scott, the AoC's quality adviser, said: "Colleges are saying that if the portfolio deadline is brought forward, there is likely to be a motivational problem for students in the summer who only have tests to look forward to. Since it is the tests that GNVQ students find less attractive, more of them may drop out before they complete the course."

A spokesman for the Joint Council for General Qualifications, which represents the awarding bodies, said only three-quarters of portfolio work had to be in by the earlier deadline.