Technical education needs to be geared up to meet challenges Britain faces

The world is rapidly changing and the education system needs to be geared up to keep up with these seismic changes. There is a real danger of young people being left to flounder when they enter the world of work.

Employers have repeatedly warned in the past of the skills shortages a lot of industries are facing.

That is why the Prime Minister’s plans to change the education system in order to open up technical routes are to be cautiously welcomed.

It isn’t just a case of preparing young people for post-education life, it is also about ensuring that they remain engaged with the system. When children feel there is a disconnect between them and school, they are more likely to end up not in education, employment or training (Neet).

Alan Milburn’s independent review earlier this year showed that Britain is reaching crisis levels when it comes to young people not in education or employment. This comes with not only social but also economic consequences.

Former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield says the reforms to technical education could be a “watershed” moment, calling the plans to give more responsibility to mayors and local leaders “significant”.

Devolving power away from Westminster has become the central plank of Burnhamism. And nowhere are local leaders better placed to shape pathways than when it comes to education and training.

Every part of the country is different. They have their own industrial clusters with their own requirements. A one-size-fits-all approach to education does not do different regions justice.