The conundrum of general national vocational qualifications: a case study of the training needs of school-based GNVQ teachers

Butcher, John (1998). The conundrum of general national vocational qualifications: a case study of the training needs of school-based GNVQ teachers. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 50(4) pp. 569–583.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13636829800200061

Abstract

This article explores the training needs of teachers in a secondary school charged with delivering GNVQ courses. Arguing that existing Initial Teacher Training provision pays scant attention to the particular requirements of GNVQ, and establishing that even experienced teachers lack confidence in the planning and assessment requirements of such courses, the article argues for the recognition of two flaws in the existing training model, and offers two ways forward in addressing these issues. First, Higher Education needs to implement and integrate initial training in those vocational alternatives that are becoming increasingly popular in schools. Secondly, schools which choose to teach GNVQs need to recognise the inadequacies of current staff training via ad hoc arrangements for assessor/verifier awards, and introduce a more pro-active GNVQ mentor role as part of a broader package of institutional support for effective delivery of GNVQ.