Mayors to shape new technical education from age 14 around Yorkshire industries

The Prime Minister said “from today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap”.

Mayors are set to shape the new technical education pathways, announced by Andy Burnham for children from the age of 14, with a focus on local industries and businesses.

The 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.

The “prestigious” new technical pathways, which will pair skills training with work experience and connections with local employers, are set to be rolled out from September 2028.

Unveiling his plans, Mr Burnham 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.”

Mayors are set to work with other local politicians, schools, colleges and employers to make sure that the technical pathways fit in with local businesses and industry.

In South Yorkshire, the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is training youngsters to work at places like Sheffield Forgemasters and BAE Systems.

While in West Yorkshire, Leeds and Huddersfield have become health tech hubs and Wakefield has become a centre for creative arts.

The new technical education pathways could focus on these key sectors in each of the regions.

In York and North Yorkshire, agriculture and tech is a huge part of the economy, with specialist colleges like Askham Bryan and York Colleges training youngsters after their GCSEs.

Mayor David Skaith said: “Too many young people have been let down by a school system that doesn’t give them the right opportunities to learn in ways that sets them up for work.

"Giving more people the option to start vocational learning earlier and lining that education up with business needs in our county will give more people the opportunity to stay in the county they call home.

"Whether it is our agricultural sector, the creative industries, rail innovation, or much more, more children and young people should get to learn the skills they need for the workplace earlier."

The reforms aimed at averting the next generation of youngsters not in education, employment or training [Neets] “brings hope to a lot of young people” who “know the education system is not built for them”, the Prime Minister said.

The latest data, published in May, showed the number of young people aged 16-24 neither working nor learning surpassed one million for the first time since 2013.

Speaking on a visit to Derby earlier today Mr Burnham said: “I will commit, in my time in office, to get the number of young people who are not in education, employment, and training down. I will commit to that.

“When precisely I can get there will is a hard thing to say right now.”

This the first of four announcements of major long-term reforms that Mr Burnham is making this week. Tomorrow, he is expected to unveil his plans to fix social care.