The changes come as the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham seeks to tackle the one million young people not in employment, education or training – or ‘Neets’
New technical education routes will be available to 14-year-olds as Andy Burnham drives reforms to tackle youth unemployment.
The new Prime Minister said he wants there to be “no dead ends” for young people coming out of education, and for technical pathways to be put on an equal footing with traditional academic routes.
From Year 10, pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects, like English and Maths, with technical education linked to jobs available in their area. Mr Burnham is expected to tell students on Tuesday: “Whether you choose construction, coding or classics, you’ll get the skills you need and be given the respect you deserve.”
Downing Street said Mr Burnham will launch “new prestigious technical education routes”. It is part of measures Mr Burnham is expected to introduce to tackle “Neets” – young people not in employment, education or training, of which there are more than one million in the UK.
The new scheme will be devised with regional mayors, local leaders, and schools, No10 added.
The announcement on Tuesday builds on his flagship education policy as Greater Manchester mayor. During his tenure the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) was launched in an attempt to put technical education on an equal footing with traditional academic routes.
It also offers students a significant work experience placement.
The PM 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.
“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.”
He added: “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.
“I want to ensure that our education system leaves no dead ends for our young people. The changes we’re announcing today will just be the start of our work to restore opportunity and hope across the country.”
It follows a major report earlier this year by the former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn warned that without action on the issue there could be a £125billion hit to the economy. He is set to publish his recommendations on tackling the crisis in the autumn.
Mr Milburn welcomed the latest measures, saying: “A million young people are being failed by a system that isn’t creating the opportunities for them to progress in life.
“The world of work is changing and the education system isn’t keeping up. The changes the PM is announcing today are very welcome. They are a big step in the right direction and consistent with the findings of my review.
“A whole system reset is needed across health, welfare and labour market policy as well as in education and skills. I know the PM recognises this and my final report will outline the further changes that are needed.”
It comes after Mr Burnham used an interview with BBC Panorama to warn that young people have been let down by an education system “obsessed” with the university route. He said young people in their twenties were not to blame and had been “seriously let down because the support wasn’t there”.
He said: “I’m talking about a school system that doesn’t have the right support for young people with special educational needs, or disabilities.
“I’m talking about an education system that for a very long time has been obsessed on the university route – but hasn’t done enough for young people who want technical qualifications and in many ways has treated them as second class students.”
He added: “That all leaves people when they get to their late teenage years in the position where they don’t know where life is taking them – so I don’t blame them. I don’t think the support has been there for them in the way it should have been.”
Mr Burnham also suggested it should be harder for people – particularly youngsters – to be able to claim benefits. He indicated he plans to “increase the conditions on people required to receive benefits”.
He said: “It’s about changing the nature of the support and making some of the support conditional upon people taking opportunities that are presented in front of them. So you might increase the conditions required to receive benefits.”