The PM wants curriculums for students aged 14 & above to be more responsive to the local job market.
Andy Burnham intends to tell schools across England to adapt their curriculums to the requirements of local businesses. This as part of a devolution drive aimed at tackling the employment crisis for young people.
By moving decision-making to local areas, the PM intends that the plan may make technical & vocational skills as valued as academic qualifications. Also, help cut the benefits bill.
Based in part on the Greater Manchester baccalaureate that Burnham introduced as the region’s mayor. It will be tasking schools with making their curriculums for students aged 14 and above more responsive to the local jobs market. It may be teaching technical skills alongside traditional academic subjects.
Burnham added that it may mean the country values the blue-collar hat every bit as much as the graduation cap.
Described by No. 10 as a fundamental change to the education system, this announcement kicks off a week of policy initiatives by Burnham. It was also expected to cover adult social care and defence, besides devolution.
After last week’s succession of rapid, consumer-focused policies such as help with utility bills, Burnham’s team aims to use the coming days to present him as a leader willing to tackle more intractable & complex political issues.
This plan, which is set to begin operations two years after September ’28, allows mayors and other local leaders to collaborate with schools, colleges, and employers to develop technical training tailored to local jobs.
In combination, prioritised funding may be available for such technical and vocational qualifications. Additionally, guidance will be provided to Ofsted to help recognise the value of these qualifications alongside more traditional ones.
By giving local areas more control over education for the 14-16 age group, Burnham said that the intention was to redress what he said was an over-simplified focus on academic routes.
Burnham added that students in this country have long been told they must take the academic path to succeed and be respected. The whole schooling system has been cultivated around it. Thus, this approach has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.
Burnham asserted that he advocates for an education system that values both academic and technical qualifications equally. This approach may benefit all young people with a clear path in life. From today, Britain would value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap.
The intention is also to help address the worsening problem of young people lacking education, employment, or training. The issue was the subject of a report published in May ’26 by the former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn.
The 1st part of an ongoing review, Milburn’s report said that the issue now affects 1 million young people across the UK, with these numbers increasing rapidly. It cited a quantum of factors that included the changing job market and inequality as well as health issues. It also blamed a lack of focus on employability skills besides non-academic qualifications.
Milburn said in a statement that he welcomes the intentions to overhaul, besides devolve, education for pupils aged 14 and older. He described it as a significant advancement that aligns with the conclusions of his review.
Moves to attract more young people into work may also be a key element of wider efforts in tackling the benefits system. Due to being guided by both Milburn’s findings and a separate review by Stephen Timms, the minister for social security, into the personal independence payment disability system.
During an interview with the BBC broadcast on Monday night, 27 July ’26, Burnham stated that he believed many young people had been failed by a system that rewards failure instead of promoting success.
