The Tories latest educational proposals are intent on ignoring the fact that not every child is academically minded.

With just days to go before this year’s A level results are announced, the Tories said they planned to overhaul the “dumbed down” system introduced by Labour.

The plans are the first to emerge from a Tory inquiry into the examination system led by Sir Richard Sykes, the former rector of Imperial College, London.

The proposals being actively considered include:

Giving more points in school league tables for A-levels achieved in “hard” subjects, such as maths and physics, and fewer points for so-called “soft” subjects such as media studies.

Removing vocational qualifications, including the Government’s flagship new diploma, from league table rankings because they are “nowhere near as academically demanding” as traditional A-levels and GCSEs.

Doing away with the Government’s current measure of GCSE performance which judges a school on the proportion of its pupils who gain five A* to C grades. Critics claim the measure forces secondaries to concentrate on borderline C grade pupils, ignoring the needs of more able children. Instead, the Tories would introduce a points-based system which would place more value on higher grades.

Improving the quality of A level and GCSE exams.

Forcing schools to track where school-leavers end up and to publish details of the universities or jobs they go on to. Julie Henry, The Telegraph.

Now I’m not suggesting their aren’t problems with league tables but treating vocational education as second rate doesn’t do the country any favours instead it ignores the fact that not all children are suited to university and good employment records of many vocational courses.