Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a major overhaul of the education system for 14-year-olds, introducing new technical education routes to tackle the crisis of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs).
New technical routes from Year 10
From Year 10, pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects like English and Maths with technical education linked to local job opportunities. Mr Burnham is expected to tell students: "Whether you choose construction, coding or classics, you’ll get the skills you need and be given the respect you deserve."
Downing Street said the new "prestigious technical education routes" are part of measures to address the more than one million NEETs in the UK. The scheme will be devised with regional mayors, local leaders and schools.
Building on Greater Manchester Baccalaureate
The announcement builds on Mr Burnham's flagship education policy as Greater Manchester mayor, where the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) was launched to put technical education on an equal footing with academic routes. It also offers a significant work experience placement.
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."
He added: "I want an education system based on parity between academic and technical which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap."
Response to crisis
Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things – and that’s what this government will do." He emphasised: "I want to ensure that our education system leaves no dead ends for our young people."
Former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn, whose report earlier this year warned of a potential £125billion hit to the economy without action, welcomed the measures. He said: "A million young people are being failed by a system that isn’t creating the opportunities for them to progress in life. The changes the PM is announcing today are very welcome."
Mr Burnham previously told BBC Panorama that young people have been let down by an education system "obsessed" with the university route, adding: "I don’t blame them. I don’t think the support has been there for them in the way it should have been."
He also indicated plans to make benefits more conditional, saying: "You might increase the conditions required to receive benefits."
