Skills for Work Courses, primarily aimed at young people aged 14–16 in schools were introduced on a pilot basis in 2005 by the Scottish qualifications Authority (SQA) in repsonse to the demand for more breadth and choice in the secondary curriculum, and a better balance of academic and vocational learning. The issues paper was commissioned to take a strategic view of the future development of Skills for Work courses within the context of wider developments in Scottish education.

To consider the furure strategic development of Skills for Work (SfW) courses (rather than operational or implementation issues) in the wider context of the role of pre-vocational provision for school students and the future development of comprehensive education in Scotland.

Literature review; interviews with stakeholders; discussions with SQA officers; and a consultation seminar with key figures from the school and college sectors and representatives of stakeholder groups.

The paper considered the future of SfW courses in the context of three broader eductional trends:greater breadth; choice and diversity; flexible progrssion frameworks; and new institutional forms and roles. It identifed and number of issues for SfW provision in respect of: the vision of the future of comprehensive education; the role of qualifications; the purposes and target groups of SfW; progression within and from SfW; and specific design issues.