Employers want to see students with more workplace skills

Work-related learning and vocational courses were thought relevant only to underachievers in many of the schools it visited, the report said.

They needed to ensure more choices were offered to all pupils, Ofsted said.

But most schools were providing a more engaging and better taught curriculum which would raise pupils' attainment.

Many pupils were re-engaging with their learning as a result, the report concluded.

Since September 2004, schools have been required to provide work- related learning for all students in Key Stage 4, the GCSE years.

Some schools remain reluctant to expand the range of qualifications they offer, while others are not making vocational options available to all Miriam Rosen

They have also had to provide a more flexible curriculum offering more choices to suit their students' needs.

Inspectors surveyed pupils at 155 schools and eight colleges to assess how well these changes had been put into practice.

They also looked at how well schools and colleges were working together to broaden the curriculum and offer work-related learning.

They found behaviour and attendance had improved and achievement had been raised - particularly among those at risk of disaffection and disengagement.

Some 60% of the schools visited were providing a "more engaging and better taught" curriculum.

'Meet all needs'

But Ofsted said about a third provided "curriculum pathways" which sometimes limited the opportunities for able students to take courses leading to vocational qualifications.

And many ruled out more academic courses for those following vocational qualifications.

"Work-related learning and vocational subjects are still seen by too many schools and parents as relevant for only those who underachieve," Ofsted said.

Its director of education Miriam Rosen said: "Some schools remain reluctant to expand the range of qualifications they offer, while others are not making vocational options available to all, and they must now broaden their curriculum to ensure the needs of all students are met."

All participants in the survey said schools and colleges were not working well enough together to widen the curriculum.

Schools tended to concentrate on A-level courses for post-16 pupils, while colleges did not have the capacity to increase the numbers of 14 to 16-year-olds on their courses.

This finding may be of concern to the government which is due to introduce a set of new vocational qualifications in 2008 known as the specialised Diplomas.

It is expected that schools will have to work closely with further education colleges, employers and training councils to deliver them.

The Commons education select committee has said there is confusion over the aim of the changes and ministers might need to delay the full implementation.

Tony Blair defended the government's decision to reject plans for the new diplomas to replace A-levels and GCSEs, when he opened a sports centre at a further education college in Worcestershire.

He said doing that would have confused people.

"I think we need a range of different qualifications," the prime minister said on the Redditch campus of New College.

"It's important for people to know what opportunities are out there."

"Things such as sports therapy, beauty, health and fitness, music, all require very high levels of professionalism - that's what has really changed."

A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills said there would be a wider range of options for young people with Diplomas, apprenticeships and the International Baccalaureate alongside existing qualifications like GCSEs and A-levels.