The Telegraph reports that both Cambridge and the LSE have drawn up a list of subjects that are considered insufficiently academic to form a preparation for candidates to study at their universities. These include business studies, travel and tourism and media studies. The universities have confirmed what has been apparent for some time: these courses are not as rigorous and have been concealing, in the exam results at least, declining educational standards.
Vocational study can be very valuable if it develops useful career skills but there is no sense in claiming that vocational A-Levels, or the Government's new diplomas, represent the same academic challenge posed in traditional subjects. Trying to pretend that they do may improve the Government's statistics but misleads students and conceals failures in the education system.