Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to give Britain’s youth a “real” education in a major break from New Labour’s drive to get Britons to go to university.
Children as young as 14 will be encouraged to pursue “a real, hands-on technical education” alongside a “core” of English, maths and science at school.
Some pupils would instead study for technical qualifications like T-levels or apprenticeships rather than A-Levels while gaining work experience.
Writing in The Times last night, the Prime Minister said the route to success had been built around “degrees and desks” for too long.
However, Mr Burnham insisted Britain now needs “brilliant engineers, electricians and cybersecurity experts more than ever before”.
Mr Burnham said the Department for Education will be reallocating its budgets to invest in technical skills and will be changing the way schools are measured and rated to reflect that.
The changes follow Alan Milburn’s warning in his May report that Britain risks leaving behind a “lost generation” of young people ill-prepared for work.
Mr Milburn last night said the reforms were “very welcome”, adding: “They are a big step in the right direction and consistent with the findings of my review.”
They form part of a slew of early policy announcements in the eight days since the Prime Minister took charge.
Britain was warned of leaving behind a ‘lost generation’ of young people ill-prepared for work back in May
|
PA
Mr Burnham vowed that the UK, under his reforms, would “value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap”.
But the Tories have criticised the move, adding the announcement “doesn’t come anywhere close to undoing the damage Labour has already done to the job market”.
Laura Trott MP, Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Labour’s policies are driving youth unemployment to record highs.
“They are making it too expensive to hire young people and destroying jobs with their Jobs Tax and employer red tape. When it’s easier for young people to claim benefits than get a job, it’s no wonder youth unemployment is rocketing.”
Ms Trott added Mr Burnham’s latest policy was ‘all over the place’
|
PA
Ms Trott added Mr Burnham’s latest policy was “all over the place”.
The Sevenoaks MP continued: “Labour have literally just legislated to strip schools of their freedom to choose what’s best for the pupils they’re teaching, yet now they imply it should be locally tailored.
“It’s not clear whether or not Labour intends to replace GCSEs, which would be a disaster. The focus should be on the knowledge-rich curriculum that has helped the most deprived children.”
But Mr Burnham has also been criticised for “rehashing” his predecessor’s policy, with this morning’s announcement admitting most secondary schools already offer a form of technical qualification.
However, it adds that the leader’s new plan will improve “quality, availability and status” of the rollout.
The education policy comes as part of sweeping policy announcements by the Burnham administration, many of which will be announced this week.
The new Labour leader is also set to unveil plans to fast-track social care reforms.
He will announce proposals to devolve more tax and spending powers to regional mayors on Friday – just hours after his replacement as Greater Manchester Mayor is elected.
