Andy Burnham has announced a major shake-up to England’s education system in a bid to tackle youth unemployment and continue the government’s devolution drive.
The new prime minister will tell schools across the country to adapt their curriculum to fit the needs of local business through new “prestigious” technical education routes.
Mr Burnham said: “For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected.
“The whole school system has been built around it and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.”
It is the most significant change to the schooling system since school academies and free school reforms were introduced by the Conservative government in 2011.
Central to the plan is a shift away from the education system’s focus on university, with the prime minister saying that he wants the country to value “the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”.
The prime minister has indicated the changes will be funded by the existing £570m investment to create additional college places across the country, plus the Department for Education settlement agreed last year, which boosted schools funding by £4.7bn by 2028-2029.
The plan is expected to begin operating as soon as September 2028, with mayors and local leaders working with schools, colleges and employers to deliver tailored technical training.
Here’s what the changes could mean for schools:
Under the plans, students will have the option to combine core academic subjects like English, maths and science, with technical education linked to jobs available in their area.
This route will be available from age 14, in Year 10. Students taking this pathway will also spend time with employers to gain work experience.
Number 10 says the plans build on successful local initiatives like the Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc), which was announced by Mr Burnham as the city’s mayor in 2022.
The scheme enables MBacc students to pick from seven gateways, developed in collaboration with local employers. These include construction, technology, education, health and culture and sport.
The prime minister has made clear that he intends the changes to mark a cultural shift in Britain, with all post-16 education routes seen as equally valuable by employers.
Announcing the plans, he told young people: “Whether you choose construction, coding or classics, or maths, manufacturing or mechanics, you’ll get the skills you need and be given the respect you deserve.”
As part of this, the government has also said that school performance will be measured differently, with inspectors also looking at the technical education and support that is being provided.
It comes at a time when the value of university degrees is being scrutinised, with graduate job vacancies declining and the student loan system described as “unfair and broken” by MPs.
The new government hopes that a renewed focus on technical skills will take pressure off the university system, whilst boosting the workforce in underserved industries across the UK.
