A passionate BMet Tutor is using his industry connections and insight to push forward the benefits of vocational travel and tourism courses, as they are set to be defunded, as part of the Post-16 Education Reforms.

The Department for Education announced last year that Level 3 travel and tourism courses will no longer be funded after 2025, as the government looks to streamline the range of academic and technical qualifications available for the post-GCSE age group.

Since the announcement of the reforms, BMet Travel and Tourism lecturer John Garside (pictured), has been campaigning for vocational travel and tourism in further education (FE).

John’s activity to push the agenda for the thriving industry has included a range of initiatives like highlighting the cause via social media channels, lobbying MPs and writing articles for trade publications. All of which have received a lot of engagement.

Having enjoyed a rewarding career himself, John’s concern began when he realised that there were no routes to his much-loved subject area in the 2021 Post-16 Education Reform and that funding eligibility would be removed.

The focus on the Post 16 qualifications reform is that young people will choose either an ‘academic’ pathway or a ‘technical’ (T Levels) pathway.

A Levels will form the core of the academic offer at Level 3. Vocational courses will continue to be available in some subject areas to be taken alongside or as alternatives to A levels, known as Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) – this would not apply to Travel and Tourism, as there is already an A-Level in the subject which has a low take up in the UK, as students prefer the vocational BTEC qualification.

This sparked John, who has been with the college for three years, to explore options to highlight the importance of travel and tourism in FE and challenge any attempts to diminish it.

He said: “It has been a shock to me that there are no T Levels or related FE courses in travel and tourism and aviation.

“I and many of my counterparts have a genuine love of the industry and knowledge of how related courses can be a real steppingstone for students to gain exciting and sustainable careers.

“When I read this document, I was looking for the section that would outline the qualification that would replace the current BTEC options, but there was not one.  So effectively the conclusion is that Level 3 Travel and Tourism & Aviation (along with other qualifications) will simply disappear in 2026.

“Whilst it was an excellent event on the way back, I reflected that the opportunities and a career in travel didn’t seem to align with the Department of Education’s strategy and plans for the course. 

“I want all my students to enjoy the same opportunities I had to work in the industry, visit wonderful places and to work with fabulous people. 

“I came into education to inspire students to work in the industry. At BMet, I want us to be the best place to study Travel and Tourism and Aviation at Level 3.  We must ensure the offer we provide is high quality and leads to great opportunities in the industry or to HE.”

To find out more about travel and tourism courses offered at BMet’s Sutton Coldfield College, please visit BMet’s website.