Prime minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to introduce new technical education pathways for 14-year-olds, promising to put vocational learning on an equal footing with academic study and create stronger routes into industries including construction.
The reforms, to be rolled out from September 2028, will allow pupils from Year 10 to combine core GCSE subjects such as English and maths with technical education linked to employment opportunities in their local area. The pathways will include employer-led projects, work experience and closer links with local businesses.
Construction has been identified as one of the priority sectors that local areas could build pathways around, alongside advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology, healthcare and the creative industries. Regional mayors, councils, schools, colleges and employers will work together to develop programmes that reflect local labour market demand.
Academic and technical parity
Announcing the reforms, Burnham said the education system had failed to give technical education the same status as academic qualifications. “For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected,” he said.
“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.”
The government said the reforms are designed to tackle youth unemployment while helping employers address skills shortages by creating clearer pathways into careers from the age of 14. More than one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The proposals build on the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc), introduced when Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester. The MBacc includes a dedicated Construction and Green Economy pathway and brings together schools, colleges and employers to provide technical learning, industry placements and progression into apprenticeships and employment.
The government also plans to prioritise funding for technical education and revise Ofsted’s inspection framework so schools are recognised for providing high-quality vocational education alongside academic achievement.
‘We need clearer pathways’
The announcement has been welcomed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which said the prime minister’s plans to put technical education on an equal footing with academic routes could help address the construction sector’s longstanding skills issues. But the organisation added that it needed to be accompanied by further action to support apprenticeships and help building firms train the next generation of builders.
“From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap.”
“Vocational and technical roles have long been treated as a career of last resort,” said Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB. “The announcement is an important recognition that construction and other skilled trades deserve to be valued every bit as highly as traditional academic routes. If we are serious about tackling youth unemployment and delivering the skilled workforce the country needs, we must give young people clearer pathways into rewarding careers in construction.”
“We particularly welcome the commitment to link technical education more closely to local labour market needs, but builders must not be forgotten in this mix. Builders do not exist in pockets, like manufacturing, but are a nationwide network. Small builders train a large proportion of the construction workforce and have first-hand knowledge of the skills their communities require.
“Builders must be given a seat at the table as these reforms are developed. They will be instrumental in providing work experience, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, and their expertise will be crucial to ensuring that training meets the needs of both learners and industry.”
Careers advice
The move also reflects longstanding concerns raised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) around the need to improve construction careers advice and create clearer routes into the industry. CIOB research has found that many young people are still unaware of the breadth of careers available in construction, despite a generally positive perception of the sector.
CIOB has previously called for stronger links between education providers and employers, alongside wider entry routes, to help address the industry’s ongoing skills challenges
