Local leaders have say on reforms to prepare youngsters for work
Local leaders had their say on how to drive excellence across the education system and better prepare young people for work during a summit hosted by the Education Secretary.
Regional mayors, business leaders, headteachers and college principals convened on 10 September at No10 North in Manchester to shape plans to make England a technical education superpower, and ensure technical and academic education are on an equal footing.
It comes following the PISA international education rankings last week – which showed England improved or remained stable against an international backdrop of declining scores and continues to perform significantly above the OECD averages in all three subjects. Meanwhile, Estonia shows academic and technical excellence can coexist.
Discussions focused on the delivery of vocational education reforms from aged 14, work experience opportunities, and making the most of the devolution of billions of pounds of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds.
The meeting was the first of regular gatherings that will bring together industry, politicians and educators to drive forward reforms. It came ahead of the publication of the Devolution White Paper which will set out plans to give local leaders a greater role in shaping economic growth and opportunity in their areas.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said in her opening remarks:
“I want a new way of working in education. I want change to come not from Whitehall alone, but to be co-designed with those who will deliver it, those who know local strengths and challenges best – you and your colleagues.
“That’s why we’re here today, and that’s how I want us to see devolution. I want it to be at the heart of a different way of doing things: a partnership between national Government and local areas, so that we can bring the change that children, young people and families need, up and down the country.”
The reforms build on the Government introducing V Levels from aged 16 and expanding T Levels from next September to help to tackle the nearly one million young people who are not in education, employment or training.
On the same day, Minister Smith used her first address to the higher education sector at the start of the new term to call on universities to see themselves at the heart of this reform agenda, helping bring growth to every postcode.
Speaking at University UK’s annual conference, she urged the sector to work with local leaders, colleges and employers to identify opportunities locally to shape courses and create work experience.
In her speech to university heads, Minister Smith said:
“There’s no point building the growth this country desperately needs, if it just embellishes the places that are already prosperous. Growth should spread opportunity and prosperity widely, leaving no area behind.
“This vision for widespread growth makes universities’ local connections and contributions just as important as their national and international renown.
“Your institutions are a network of economic engines throughout the country. We want to build on your established strengths and successes to distribute opportunity and drive national renewal.
“Universities should be at the heart of local partnerships that turn economic opportunity into courses, student workplace experience and good jobs for local people.”
This is already happening in areas such as the Humber where the University of Hull works with major local employers including wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa and renewable energy developer Ørsted. Students can access placements and graduate opportunities, while a master’s degree apprenticeship developed with Siemens Gamesa is training the next generation of offshore wind engineers.
Meanwhile, in the West of England, UWE Bristol and University Centre Weston work with employers including Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace to deliver engineering degree apprenticeships. Learners combine paid work with degree-level study, while employers help shape training around the skills needed in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
