Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined ambitious plans to overhaul the UK education system, aiming to address the rising number of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) and to put academic and technical education on an equal footing. The Makerfield MP, who secured the Labour leadership with backing from hundreds of MPs, will take office on July 20, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer.
A Path for Everybody
Burnham has pledged to create 'a path for everybody' into their desired career, ending the dominance of university routes and opening direct pathways into industry. In a speech in Manchester after launching his leadership bid, he cited Alan Milburn's May report, which warned of a 'whole system failure' leading to nearly one in seven 16- to 24-year-olds being NEETs, a figure that could rise to one in six by 2031, representing 1.25 million young people.
Burnham stated: 'We need a complete rethink of how we support the next generation to succeed, and it has to start with the education system. The days of a school system configured entirely around the university route will be brought to an end.' He emphasized that while university is 'great for those who want it,' there must be a focus on 'the life chances of those kids who want something different.'
Technical Education and Apprenticeships
Burnham aims to build 'an education system based on parity between academic and technical,' giving every young person 'a clear path into a reindustrialised Britain.' He has proposed expanding free bus travel for 16- to 18-year-olds, a policy he implemented in Greater Manchester, to improve access to training opportunities. He also wants to guarantee a work placement or apprenticeship for every 16- to 18-year-old who wants one, and order Whitehall to back British firms bidding for public contracts to create more placements.
Tuition Fees and Graduate Tax
Burnham has previously voiced support for replacing university tuition fees with a graduate tax to 'lift the millstone of debt' from students, a position he held during his 2015 Labour leadership campaign against Jeremy Corbyn. However, he has yet to confirm whether scrapping tuition fees for English universities will be a policy during his premiership. SNP MSP Alex Kerr urged Burnham to 'copy the SNP and scrap tuition fees,' noting that Scottish graduates start their careers with £35,000 less debt on average than English counterparts.
Mental Health Support
Burnham also highlighted the importance of mental health support for young people, suggesting that improving access to such services could substantially reduce the number of NEETs. He said: 'In my view, if we did that, and we changed the way we provide mental health support to young people – I believe we can substantially reduce the number of Neets.'
