Prime minister Andy Burnham has unveiled new measures for the education system to provide 14-year-olds with early access to technical skills, including construction.
Under rules announced yesterday (28 July), year 10 students will be able to combine core academic subjects, including maths, science and English, with “high-quality technical” education linked to the jobs available in their respective areas.
The prime minister said regional mayors, local leaders, schools, colleges and employers would shape the new technical education pathways, which will be tailored around local industries and growth sectors.
This includes advanced manufacturing, AI, digital and technology, clean energy, life sciences, construction, health and care and creative industries.
“For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected,” Burnham said.
“In a fundamental change to the education system, we will introduce new technical education pathways from 14, prestigious routes that will give students the chance to combine the core academic subjects with the skills, technical knowledge and experience they need to get quality, well-paid jobs where they live.
“My message to young people is this: whether you choose construction, coding or classics, or maths, manufacturing or mechanics, you’ll get the skills you need and be given the respect you deserve.”
Stephen Teagle, chief executive of partnerships and regeneration at Vistry Group, said Burnham was “absolutely right to radically reshape the education system to put technical qualifications, such as bricklaying, on an equal footing with academic degrees”.
“The housebuilding industry is crying out for the next generation of skilled trades and construction workers to join us, not least as we need at least an additional 1.3 million tradespeople over the next decade so we can continue to deliver the homes that Britain needs,” he added.
“As you would expect, as one of the largest UK housebuilders, we have a vested interest in a competitive construction sector, equipped with a growing pipeline of skilled trades. But we also have a moral obligation to ensure that the housebuilding industry creates and sustains a technical and skills legacy, in partnership with government, right across the country to enable the next generation to succeed and prosper.”
This comes after London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan announced a new £88.6m fund to support more than 20,000 construction courses to train the next generation of housebuilders.
The package, funded by the Department for Education, will also support industry placements and invest in high-quality training facilities and equipment at colleges across London.
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