Professor Alison Wolf, who authored a government-commissioned review of vocational courses published earlier this year, said schools had been "under enormous pressure to pile up league table points".

BBC: Many vocational courses axed from league tables

Alison Wolf, professor of management at King's College, University of London, warns that vocational education should not be viewed as a way of engaging students turned off by school.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Pros and cons of replacing A-levels

Professor Alison Wolf, author of the government's review into vocational education, said the only sensible approach is to get a "broad-based education" equipped with skills and qualifications that employers recognize.

BBC: Are vocational qualifications valuable?

According to Alison Wolf, an academic who is writing a book about vocational education and training, one reason is that some vocational qualifications do no more than certify skills that employees already have they are gained just to satisfy regulatory requirements.

ECONOMIST: Skills