Burnham places technical education at heart of the British curriculum
Prime minister Andy Burnham has announced that schools will be offering technical subjects to pupils in conjunction with ‘core’ subjects such as English and Maths, from the age of 14.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “Education is about broadening horizons and improving opportunities, the prime minister’s decision to offer technical subjects to pupils in conjunction with core subjects does just that.
The decision dismantles the antiquated educational hierarchy and aligns us with nations such as Germany, Sweden, France and Britain in the 1960’s, where education serves to inspire and facilitate careers paths.”
The option of technical subjects is set to be implemented from September 2028, combining skills training with work experience and connection with local employers.
These reforms mirror initiatives introduced by Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester, which included a technical education alternative to the English Baccalaureate, called the ‘Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc)’.
As a result of the introduction of the MBacc, a record number of work placements have been secured for students in the area, with an additional 800 ‘T-Level’ placements provided by local businesses.
The specific vocations that will be offered have not yet been confirmed; however, the pathways included in the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate include manufacturing, engineering and construction.
This was announced following a report published by the Department for Work and Pensions in May of this year, which found that nearly one million young people ages 16 to 24 are ‘NEETs’ (not in education, employment or training). The report highlighted an education system that is measured overwhelmingly on attainment, rather than outcomes with work experience rendered an ‘afterthought’.
According to the prime minister, introduction of technical subjects will ensure that there are ‘no dead ends’ for young people coming out of education, bolster the economy by reducing welfare spend on unemployed young people and ensure that Britain values ‘the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap’.
Rico Wojtulewicz, director of policy and market insight, said: “The desire to implement this policy by 2028 shows prime minister Burnham is determined to tackle the NEET crisis. It is worth noting that changes to health and safety regulations for under 16’s will be needed to ensure there aren’t any workplace access barriers.
The soft influence of this change cannot be understated, as parents, learners and teachers will begin to view technical education more positively, aligning it with career paths. To further cement this shift in how the UK education system is viewed, we hope to convince Andy Burnham that changing the subject ‘Design and Technology’ to ‘Design, Construction and Technology’ would mean children from the age of 11 would start to consider construction, not just buildings, as part of their education pathway.”