Prime minister unveils technical education routes

17 min read

The prime minister unveiled a plan to introduce prestigious technical education routes from age 14, letting students combine English, maths and science with employer-linked technical training and work experience. Regions will design pathways with mayors, schools, colleges and employers to match local growth sectors such as engineering, healthcare and digital technology. The government will prioritise funding, change school performance measures so Ofsted recognises technical provision, and devolve greater influence over 14–16 education. The initiative responds to Alan Milburn's warning about over one million 16–24-year-olds out of education, employment or training, and aims to begin roll-out from September 2028.

New technical pathways available from age 14, rolling out from September 2028.