Pupils who take technical awards at key stage 4 have lower rates of absence, permanent exclusion and fixed exclusion, according to new figures published today.

A Department for Education analysis has also found that pupils with special educational needs, and those from a disadvantaged background, are over-represented in entries for these non-GCSE qualifications.

The DfE analysis looks at technical awards - government-approved level 1 and level 2 non-GCSE qualifications that provide 14- to 16-year-olds with applied knowledge and practical skills. 

It finds that, for pupils in state-funded mainstream schools, taking a technical award is associated with lower absence rates, lower permanent exclusion rates and lower fixed exclusion rates, when compared with similar pupils not taking a technical award. 

Quick read: DfE denies it will change heads’ powers of exclusion

Long read: Meet the head who is asking if ‘strong’ leadership is enough

Opinion: ‘Prison education can unlock young people’s potential’

For example, taking a technical award is associated with a lower overall absence rate by 1.03 percentage points (15 per cent lower) when compared with similar pupils not taking technical awards.

The same pattern is also evident for pupils with SEN who are taking a technical award in state-funded mainstream schools.

For pupils on SEN support in state-funded mainstream schools, taking a technical award is associated with a lower overall absence rate by 1.93 percentage points (21 per cent lower) when compared with similar pupils.

The analysis finds that some pupils are over-represented in technical award entries.

For example, pupils with SEN make up 15 per cent of the overall student cohort, but account for 53 per cent of level 1 technical award entries.

The same is true for disadvantaged pupils, who make up 25 per cent of the cohort, but account for 49 per cent of level 1 technical award entries.