ABSTRACT
This book is published at a time when the English education and training system is at a watershed. The Dearing Review of Qualifications for 16–19 Year Olds was a recognition of this fact. After years of gradual and unplanned reform and some advances in both participation and achievement, it is now clear that we have reached a critical point in the English system. Evidence suggests that there is a ‘peaking’ of rises in full-time post-16 participation, and achievement rates could soon follow this trend. Both are of concern in the light of revised national targets and adverse comparisons with international competitor systems.
