New vocational GCSEs to be offered to teenagers in England. Here’s how they will work

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Teenagers across England are set to gain access to new vocational GCSEs and expanded work experience opportunities under Government reforms designed to put technical and academic learning on an equal footing.

Intended to sit alongside traditional GCSEs, these new qualifications will become available to 14-year-olds in selected subjects from as early as September 2029, eventually replacing existing Technical Awards.

The Government has also launched a nationwide mission on work experience, which will call on employers to provide an additional 200,000 work experience placements for students aged between 14 and 16.

It comes amid a push from the Government to achieve parity of esteem between vocational and academic pathways.

In July, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that new technical education routes would be available to 14-year-olds as part of reforms to tackle youth unemployment.

The latest announcement comes amid concerns about the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet), which is now more than one million.

The new vocational GCSEs will be the same size as GCSEs and will be nationally set, and the assessment and grading will be regulated by Ofqual to ensure full parity with traditional GCSEs.

Pupils will still be expected to study English, Maths and Science GCSEs.

The announcement comes on top of reforms which will place a greater emphasis on practical skills and assessments in GCSE subjects like PE, Drama, Design and Technology, Food and Nutrition, Music and Computing.

Mr Burnham said: “We’ve all heard someone say ‘school wasn’t really for me’ because they were not given the chance to study vocational courses as well as traditional subjects.

“That one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working, so we’re building an education system that values both academic and technical paths.

“I want to give all young people across Britain the hope that their future will be brighter – whether it starts at university or not.”

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: “Time and again young people, parents and employers tell me they want schools to do more to help them understand and prepare for the jobs of the future.