The IFS report is an interesting and useful piece of analysis, but its findings are not a simple guide to policy, says the IEA’s editorial and research fellow Prof Len Shackleton.

Writing for 1828, Len argues that “closing courses by central diktat” would almost certainly disproportionately penalise potential students from poorer backgrounds. He adds that they would not be able to switch easily into vocational programmes which don’t suit their abilities or interests – as few such programmes exist.

Read the full article here.