In his final annual report as Ofsted Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw says that the quality of technical and vocational education and training needs to improve to meet the skills challenges of the future.

Whilst the proportion of the population with a degree is rising, the annual report tells us that, for pupils not destined for higher education, there are fewer high-quality options available and that skills shortages will not be met by reliance on the country’s universities.

“The great barrier to meeting the country’s technical knowledge and skills shortages is the poor esteem and status given to technical and vocational education”, Sir Michael says, citing the greater parity given by the UK’s international competitors.

Other key aspects of the report include:

• Education for children below the age of 11 is stronger than ever
• Education for children above the age of 11 has improved, but not everywhere; secondary schools in the north and midlands are behind the rest of the country.
• Pressures on the supply of secondary teachers have not abated
• The proportion of good or outstanding general FE colleges has declined with significant reforms such as Area Reviews, reforms to apprenticeships, the Sainsbury Review and the Post-16 Skills Plan, continuing the ‘turmoil’ for Further Education.