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‘Mickey Mouse’ GCSEs like cake-decorating and call centre skills to be axed

Over 3,000 so-called ‘Mickey Mouse’ vocational GCSEs like floristry, cake-decorating and tap-dancing are set to be axed in order to make future generations more employable, it has been revealed.

The radical shake-up was announced by the Coalition today, after research revealed that 90% of 16-year-olds had taken at least one of the ‘soft’ vocational subjects, with less emphasis being placed on traditional academic subjects like Maths, Science and English.

Critics have slated current qualifications, where teens can get a GCSE equivalent in cake-decorating, tap-dancing, call centre skills and critical thinking, for fooling students into thinking employers will take softer subjects seriously. As of 2014, over 3,000 of these tests will no longer be available.

Do you think that vocational subjects are important to help children learn vital skills? Or should the emphasis always be placed on academic subjects?

Would you be happy if your child wanted to take GCSEs in Health and Safety, Sugar Confection, Working with Others or Horse Care?