New Vocational GCSEs and No10 North work experience scheme unveiled

As part of plans to overhaul the education system, Andy Burnham will on Thursday unveil new Vocational GCSEs alongside boosted access to work experience opportunities

Some students will be offered work experience in No10 North as part of a major drive to create hundreds of thousands of new placements for young people across Britain.

As part of plans to overhaul the education system, Andy Burnham will on Thursday unveil new Vocational GCSEs alongside boosted access to work experience opportunities.

The new qualifications – which will sit alongside traditional GCSEs – are set to provide a wide range of subjects to students, including business management, digital tech, child development and construction. They will be available in some areas from September 2029.

They will eventually replace existing Technical Awards, which currently vary by provider with no nationally set content, and do not consistently support progression to further study, the Department for Education said.

The assessment and grading of the new vocational GCSEs will be regulated by Ofqual to ensure full parity with traditional GCSEs. Pupils will still be expected to study English, Maths and Science GCSEs.

The PM will also urge employers to provide an additional 200,000 work experience opportunities to 14 to 16-year-olds amid a crisis in youngsters not in education, employment or training (NEET). Setting an example, ministers have announced No10 North will establish placements this academic year.

It builds on Mr Burnham’s announcement in July that new technical education routes would be available to 14-year-olds as part of reforms to tackle youth unemployment.

Alan Milburn’s interim report into NEETs warned that Britain is at risk of a “lost generation” and painted a stark picture of a system that too often leaves young people leaving school without the skills, experience or connections they need to step into the world of work.

Mr Burnham said: “We’ve all heard someone say ‘school wasn’t really for me’ because they were not given the chance to study vocational courses as well as traditional subjects. That one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working, so we’re building an education system that values both academic and technical paths.

“I want to give all young people across Britain the hope that their future will be brighter – whether it starts at university or not.”

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: “Time and again young people, parents and employers tell me they want schools to do more to help them understand and prepare for the jobs of the future.

“Our new Vocational GCSEs will give young people a stronger connection to the careers and industries shaping our economy, helping them discover and develop their talents while maintaining high standards across our education system.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the latest announcement must be backed by a plan to boost teachers and resources. He said: “Reform needs to be accompanied by a strategy to ensure that schools have the staffing and resources to deliver them, and a campaign to raise public awareness of vocational and technical routes.”

He also questioned why vocational GCSEs were not simply being named “GCSEs”, adding: “We would also question why it is necessary to call these qualifications Vocational GCSEs, when genuine parity of esteem would be better served by simply calling them GCSEs, in line with existing academic qualifications.”

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed the plans but echoed concerns over funding, saying: “Success is dependent on government providing sustained investment, resources, time and capacity for schools and teachers to develop and deliver high-quality vocational provision. These proposed changes will fall at the first hurdle unless there is sufficient investment in schools and the workforce.

A consultation will be launched later this year to shape the new qualifications.