Commenting on the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement that secondary school pupils in England will be able to study technical subjects, including manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI), alongside core academic learning from the age of 14, Jude Hillary, Co-Head of Policy and Practice at NFER, said:
“As AI reshapes the labour market and the jobs available in future, it is essential that young people develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive in a changing economy, so it is encouraging to see the Prime Minister place a clear focus on broadening access to technical education from an earlier age.
“This is particularly important given the scale of the challenge facing young people, with more than one million 16–24-year-olds currently not in education, employment, or training. Apprenticeships, work-based learning, and high-quality technical education all have a vital role to play in creating clear, high-quality pathways into good careers, while helping employers meet their skills needs.
“However, introducing new technical pathways at pace will present significant challenges, particularly given existing workforce pressures and significant special education need reforms that schools are already implementing. Delivering this ambition will require careful planning, sustained investment and close collaboration with schools, colleges, and employers.
“Ensuring schools and colleges have access to the specialist expertise, resources and support they need will be essential if these reforms are to be successfully implemented and deliver the opportunities young people need.”