Employers have welcomed the vocational qualifications, but the academic qualifications – in humanities, languages and sciences – have caused concern
Employer doubts about the value of the 14-19 diploma have been played down by the government.

At a CIPD policy briefing, “Taking on tomorrow’s talent stream”, Jim Knight, schools and learners minister, said the diplomas were currently the “biggest educational reform in the world” and any doubt about them was because “there’s quite a lot of risk attached”.

The government is to introduce both vocational and academic diplomas for 14- to 19-year-olds, which will run parallel with GCSEs and A-levels.