Too many young people are doing vocational courses which boost league tables but do not lead to university or a job, a report says.
A review commissioned by ministers is to recommend a shake-up of vocational education in England.
It will say all pupils should study a core of academic subjects until they are 16.
And it will call for changes to the school league tables so some vocational qualifications are not counted.
At the moment, some qualifications count for the equivalent of four GCSEs.
The review has been carried out by the economist Professor Alison Wolf, who is an expert in education and skills.
'Low-level courses'Her report is due to be published later on Thursday morning.
It is expected to say that "many low-level courses have little or no labour-market value" and that between a quarter and a third of 16 to 19-year-olds are on courses "which score well under league tables but don't lead to higher education or paid employment".
That echoes criticism of vocational training voiced by Education Secretary Michael Gove, who complained that schools were steering pupils into vocational courses to boost their league table positions even if that was not in their best interest.
The report will say children should study mainly academic subjects until they are 16 and that if they do not get a good GCSE in English and maths by that age, they should be made to continue with those subjects.
There is also a call for more high-quality apprenticeships for young people aged from 16 to 18.
Employers should be part-subsidised to offer such apprenticeships, Professor Wolf believes, if they offer wider training.
The report will also say it should be made easier for teachers from further education colleges to teach in schools.
University Technical CollegesIt is understood the government will broadly welcome the report and accept some of the recommendations.
It is already planning to open new University Technical Colleges, where pupils could go from the age of 14.
The aim is that the colleges bridge the gap between vocational and academic education, with a curriculum including both technical work-based training and core academic lessons in English and maths.
There will also be vocational specialisms such as engineering, construction, business or medical care.
Vocational qualifications taken in schools and colleges include Btecs, City and Guilds and OCR Nationals, and cover subjects ranging from IT and construction skills, to dance, hospitality and catering.
Teaching unions have so far been critical of the government's statements on vocational qualifications, in particular the suggestion that pupils could opt for vocational colleges at 14.
They say 14 is too young to make such decisions and that the policy would reinforce divisions between academic and vocational studies.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, said: "The publication of the Wolf Report will be the moment of truth for this coalition government's commitment to high quality education post-14.
"The test will be whether this delivers equity for all post-14 learners, does not contribute to educational segregation, and produces parity of esteem between academic and vocational learning."
Are you doing a vocational course? Or do you teach a vocational course? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below: