Community Union welcomes the launch of new technical educational routes that will provide 14-year-olds with early access to technical skills, work experience and employer connections.
Announcing the news on Monday, the Prime Minister said the country will “value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap”.
Community has long called for technical education to be on an equal footing with academic learning, and provided there is adequate funding, these new changes could go a great way in making that happen.
Addressing the attainment gap
In its annual report looking at the state of education in England, the Education Policy Institute described a ‘post-16 participation gap’ which showed nearly one in four students from low income backgrounds do not go on to post-16 education or training, compared with one in ten other students.
The widening gap between ambition and opportunity is something the Government has said it will address through the newly announced changes to education, namely by prioritising the funding of high-quality technical routes to employment.
The changes, which also include modifying how school performance is measured, should act as incentives for schools to improve these technical pathways.
What are the opportunities available to students?
The plans, which should come into force in September 2028, will allow mayors and other local leaders to work with schools, colleges and employers to devise technical training built around local jobs.
From age 14, students will have the chance to combine core academic studies, such as English and maths, with a technical education linked to jobs available in that area.
This means year 10 students will have the opportunity to spend time with employers and gain real-world experience.
Lack of experience is often a barrier to entry when young people enter the workforce, especially if they are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are unable to take on unpaid internships or roles to gain skills experience.
Overall, the plans promote flexibility. Learning opportunities will depend on the types of industries growing in communities. This could include AI, technology, clean energy, construction and health care.
The changes are apart of the Government’s wider plans for devolution and they also form part of the plans to tackle the youth unemployment crisis.
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