More than 100 government high schools have expressed an intention to offer vocational education and training to Years 9 and 10 students next year.

The Board of Studies NSW vocational education inspector Ian Balcomb said 112 schools had notified the board, which has removed restrictions to offer vocational education courses to Stage 5 students from 2009.

Mr Balcomb said the change had “opened some new curriculum pathways” for students.

“It’s a potential strategy to address engagement in learning, participation and retention,” Mr Balcomb said at the recent Middle Years Conference in Sydney.

He said under the board’s guiding principles, undertaking a vocational education and training course in Years 9 and 10 should be an option for students as “an integral part of a broad general education” and must be accredited within recognised schooling and industry qualifications.

The removal of restrictions follows a successful two-year trial in 25 NSW schools. More than 60 per cent of students said vocational education and training had helped their achievement in other subjects. There was also data to suggest “access to VET courses has the potential to positively impact on retention into Year 11”.

The qualifications to be made available in the School Certificate – in business services, information technology, agri-food, manufacturing, transport and logistics – will “sit below” the qualifications available within the HSC curriculum.

Mr Balcomb said an alternative pathway allowed students to start any of the Stage 6 HSC vocational education courses early.

“Early commencement is a deliberately named new pathway within the HSC … students still have to complete the mandatory requirements of the School Certificate while studying a Stage 6 VET course,” he said.