More than one million young people across the UK are not in education, employment or training — the highest level in over 12 years — as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces a radical shake-up of secondary education in England.
From Year 10, pupils will be able to study technical subjects such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence alongside core maths, English and science, under plans outlined by Burnham at a train manufacturing site in Derby. The courses will be linked to local industries, designed to give children a clearer pathway into work.
“One million young people are Neet as Burnham announces vocational courses from age 14 in England.”
Burnham said the system has been “built for too long around the university route” and sends a message to some young people that they are “second-class citizens”. He added: “They need an education system that works for them as well, that offers a path to all young people, that’s balanced between academic and technical.”
The prime minister said he was “on a mission” to reduce the number of Neet young people but declined to put a target date on his ambition. “The trend is rising at the moment, so the first thing I’ve got to do is to stop that rise,” he said. “It’s hard to put a firm date on the moment when you can say there are fewer than now.”
Few details have been published about how the new vocational courses would work in practice, and it is not clear how they would operate in areas with low industrial activity. The government expects the new pathways to be up and running in some areas by 2028.
Separately, the government announced a new bursary of up to £4,500 for some families who would lose out on child benefit if their children chose an apprenticeship, because the starter salary would be worth less than the benefit.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately dismissed the announcement as “not a big bold announcement”, telling BBC Breakfast: “What’s going on there is a drastic shortage of jobs because Labour’s policies over the last couple of years have killed job opportunities for young people. This announcement will not solve that.”
Under the proposals, pupils will continue to study core academic subjects but also have the option of combining them with technical education, including work experience and connections with local employers. The government says the policy will eventually drive down welfare spending on young people — though how that will be achieved in areas with few local industries remains an open question.