Less academic pupils should follow a vocation, says Mike Tomlinson

Former chief schools inspector Mike Tomlinson told Saturday's Telegraph of plans for the apprenticeship scheme.

Mr Tomlinson is heading a review of education for 14 to 19 year olds in England, which has already proposed a major shake-up of the exams system.

He said many children became "disengaged" at age 14 or earlier.

Earlier this week the review's interim report recommended A-levels, GCSEs and vocational qualifications be scrapped in favour of four-tiered diplomas.

And under proposals for "junior apprenticeships", some children could spend two days at school, one day at college learning a skill such as plumbing or joinery and up to two days in the workplace, Mr Tomlinson told the Telegraph.

Doubts

The idea of letting youngsters spend two days a week in workplaces was first proposed by the government more than a year ago.

It has proved popular with teenagers, though some people are concerned they may be "pigeon-holed" too early.

"Junior apprenticeships could easily happen at 14. A lot of people become disengaged at 14, if not before," Mr Tomlinson said.

"Their disengagement is a consequence of seeing no relevance in what they're studying."

He said there were skills shortages in many areas of industry in the UK that needed to be filled.