Education Secretary Lucy Powell has brought together mayors, school and college leaders and businesses at No10 North in Manchester as Labour seeks to overhaul technical education and give more young people a clear route from the classroom into work.
The summit focused on vocational education, work experience, apprenticeships and the devolution of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds, with local leaders invited to help shape reforms rather than simply implement policies designed in Whitehall.
Reflecting on the meeting, Powell said:
“I was really inspired by today’s gathering of Mayors, school and college leaders, and businesses at No10 North.”
She said those attending were ready to embrace a “new way of working” to close the gap between education and employment.
“There is so much opportunity out there that young people don’t know how to access or can’t access.”
Powell added that local leaders and employers could help by opening doors through “work experience, apprenticeships and mentoring”, ensuring that no young person was left without options.
Making England a technical education superpower
The Government says it wants technical and academic education to be placed on an equal footing and is developing new vocational pathways beginning from age 14.
From September 2028, pupils are expected to be able to combine core academic subjects such as English and maths with technical education linked more closely to jobs and employers in their local areas.
Powell said the Government wanted education reform to be co-designed with the people who understand local economies and skills needs best.
She told the summit:
“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.”
The meeting was the first in a planned series bringing together political leaders, employers and educators to shape the Government’s reforms.
Tackling youth unemployment
The reforms come amid concern about the number of young people outside education and the labour market.
Around 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training between April and June, according to figures cited by the Department for Education.
Labour has made tackling that challenge a priority, with ministers arguing that young people need clearer pathways into skilled employment and much stronger links between schools, colleges and businesses.
The summit therefore focused not only on qualifications but on practical opportunities such as work placements, mentoring and apprenticeships.
Greater role for mayors and local leaders
Powell’s approach also fits into Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s wider devolution programme.
No10 North was established as a central part of the Government’s plan to move power and decision-making away from Westminster, and Burnham has already committed to giving mayors greater responsibility for post-16 technical education, skills and employment support.
The Government believes local leaders are better placed to identify where skills shortages exist and ensure education provision is connected to actual employment opportunities.
That could mean tailoring technical courses and training programmes to sectors growing in individual regions rather than operating a largely uniform national system.
Powell: ‘Working together, for every child’s future’
For Powell, the central objective is ensuring young people leave education with real opportunities in front of them.
She said:
“By bringing people with us – local leaders opening doors through work experience, apprenticeships and mentoring, we can ensure no young person is left without options.”
The Education Secretary concluded:
“That’s what today was about – working together, for every child’s future.”
Labour’s argument is that closing the gap between education and employment will require more than changes to the curriculum. It will depend on schools, colleges, mayors and employers working together to give young people the skills, experience and connections they need to succeed.
