Posted on 24 September
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Government yesterday announced that new vocational GCSEs will be introduced from 2029 for 14-year-olds alongside existing core academic subjects in England.
Announced by Burnham and Education Secretary Lucy Powell, the new subjects could include building and construction, business management and finance, and child development.
The new GCSEs, Powell said, will “put technical education on an equal footing with the traditional academic path.”
The government have called on employers to “provide an additional 200,000 work experience placements to ensure all young people have vital exposure to the workplace between 14 and 16.”
Responding to the news, Nikki Davis, CEO and Principal of Leeds College of Building (LCB) said:
“We are delighted to see the introduction of vocational GCSEs.
“For too long, there has been a perception that academic routes are valued more highly than technical education, despite the critical role skilled trades and technical professionals play in our economy.
“These new qualifications will help more young people discover their talents, keep their options open, and progress into rewarding careers.
“For sectors such as construction, which face significant skills shortages, this is a positive and welcome development.
“The question of capacity, however, is always an important one.
“There are problems with staffing numbers across the further education sector and if not properly implemented these new courses could exacerbate the issue.
“At LCB we are readying ourselves for the future with the new addition to our North Street home which will effectively increase the size of our estate by a third and significantly expand our provision capabilities across the board.
“We will continue to work in partnership with schools and industry both locally and nationally to deliver the expert led tuition we are known for.
“At LCB we know that technical education is fundamental to the UK’s future prosperity so we will always support the government placing technical and academic pathways on an equal footing.”
Nikki Davis is our CEO and Principal, a position she has held since 2022. She is the first woman to hold the post of Principal in LCB’s 60-year history.
Read more about the government’s new vocational GCSEs right here.
Fancy joining our LCB family? Find a course that works for you right here.
