Most students go on to work in areas unrelated to their GNVQ subject. A minority has a clear link with GNVQ courses in Business, Leisure and Tourism and Health and Social Care. Intermediate students moving to Advanced GNVQs will almost invariably do so within the same subject area. Technical and scientific occupations have very low representation. GNVQs have become, and are recognised as, a major vehicle for direct competition between schools and colleges.
Group sizes vary enormously and average sizes are much lower in schools than in colleges.
There are large differences in teaching and contact hours. Ways of delivering core skills vary greatly. Most GNVQ teams find core skills delivery highly problematic. The study finds that many of the older qualifications have survived and are doing well. GNVQ students are overwhelmingly young and full-time.