Why are tradesmen so unreliable

No jobs as artists, it's not a problem as a secondary A level but if you try to make a living as an artist you will starve.

Oh dearie me.

There is no point in discussing this with someone who has such rigid views.

It's like plaiting fog, isn't it?

At what point, David, do you accept that it is up to the young people to make their own decisions? Why do you think they are 'saddled with' an education as opposed to having chosen to get one?

At what age would you stream people into potential Chiefs, Indians, Technicians and Administrators, and who would you allow to have 'graduate jobs'?

What about late developers?
Those who suddenly realise, having quite enjoyed more mundane jobs for a few years after school, have found their vocation and aim for that? Should they be pigeon-holed for the rest of their working life?

Reminds me of the Two Ronnies and John Cleese.

It's like plaiting fog, isn't it?

You need a technician to do that.

Yes, and also thee inverse of that - people who might get fed up with being 'Chiefs' and retrain as something completely different.

I find the rather Gradgrindian approach to education disturbing. In a free country we should all be able to step outside of imposed boundaries that tell us our 'place' and use the education system to keep us firmly in it.

Allira

Choice, David49.

Or are you suggesting that schools, colleges and universities should collaborate and decide which pupils should train in which disciplines according to what the country needs and what they consider to be the pupils' aptitudes?

No Im suggesting the government set a quota of graduates in the discipline the economy needs, only the best at A level get those places , rather like 11 plus there are only so many places needed. In those areas that have the 11 plus around 10% get the places
It can be a generous allowance to allow for drop outs because many areas don't select the best 20% should be ample. The graduates would have a much less chance of being disappointed by no job + all the debt, the government would be better off with the relevant qualified population, at half the cost

It's not about what the individual wants it what the nation needs.

It's not about what the individual wants it what the nation needs.
Some might argue that we don't need artists, historians, archaeologists, actors etc.

@David No jobs as artists, it's not a problem as a secondary A level but if you try to make a living as an artist you will starve. Only a few are going to get jobs where they use art skills.

What you call "art skills" can turn into countless career opportunities in design, film, the built and natural environment, fashion, therapy, digital media, publishing, marketing, or education.