Education providers in Colchester have responded to a report claiming vocational courses are letting down thousands of young people.

Professor Alison Wolf, commissioned to carry out an independent report by Education Secretary Michael Gove, said hundreds of thousands of young people have been taking vocational courses that don’t lead anywhere.

Mrs Wolf said doing an apprenticeship is worth far more than going and doing a degree that often does not have much value.

She said young people needed to get into the workplace and get real skills that will serve them well in life.

Derrick Stott, of Colchester-based Vocational Training Services, which offers apprenticeship-led vocational courses in childcare and health and social care, welcomed the report.

He said: “It is hard-hitting, but on the whole we support what it is saying.

“We agree appprenticeships should be part-subsidised and are the best way forward for young people getting qualifications while working in their chosen field.”

Danny Clough, principal of Colchester Institute, one of the biggest providers of vocational courses in the area, said: “The broad thrust of the report is that full vocational courses or programmes, delivered in colleges that understand vocational education and training, are productive and beneficial.

“Conversely, less well organised activities in less well organised educational or training establishments, are not.

“One aspect we find interesting is the thought that leading colleges, such as Colchester Institute, might be encouraged to recruit learners from 14 rather than 16.”