Back in July Noemi Csogor set out this very significant petition and it achieved 22,000. signatures within 2 months. Since then it has reached nearly 74,000 signatures and it has another 9 days before it reaches its end point. If we can work to support it by reaching 100,000 signatures by its deadline on 23rd January there is a opportunity for Parliament to discuss it. That means we need to get 26,000 signatures over the next 9 days. The following information is the content for the petition. Please consider signing it. It is available here.

Protect student choice: do not withdraw funding for BTEC qualifications

Reverse the plan to withdraw funding for most applied general qualifications such as BTECs and guarantee they will continue to play a major role in the qualifications landscape. Students should not be forced to choose between studying A levels or T levels from the age of 16.

For many young people, studying BTECs will continue to be the most effective way of accessing higher education or skilled employment. These well-established, high quality qualifications are popular with students and respected by employers and universities. They can be studied alongside, or instead of, A levels and provide an important alternative to T levels. Removing BTECs will leave many students without a viable pathway after their GCSEs, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.