Local Mayors, Industry and Educators Come Together At No10 North Summit To Rewire Vocational Education
Regional mayors, business leaders, headteachers and college principals will convene today (Thursday 10th) 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.
- Lucy Powell convenes leaders from education, industry, and local government at No10 North to put local expertise at heart of education policies
- Event to shape reforms to vocational education from aged 14, work experience, and devolving of billions of pounds of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds
- Minister for Skills urges universities to create opportunities to match local skills and jobs
Local leaders are to have 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.
It comes following the PISA international education rankings earlier in the 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 will focus 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.
This is the first of regular gatherings that will bring together industry, politicians and educators to drive forward reforms
The meeting will be the first of regular gatherings that will bring together industry, politicians and educators to drive forward reforms. It comes 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 is set to say 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 what 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 1 million young people who are not in education, employment or training.
On the same day, Minister Smith will use 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 will urge 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, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith is set to say:
“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.”
Humber
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.
West of England
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.
Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, Bill Watkin, said:
“Today’s summit is a very welcome opportunity to discuss how to implement the ambitious reforms set out by the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State.
“We share the government’s ambition to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment and training – this is an important national priority that we must all come together to address.
“Today could mark the beginning of a new chapter in collaboration between education, industry and government to ensure that every young person can access a high quality pathway to skilled employment or further study.”
Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, David Hughes, said:
“The Prime Minister’s has set out a clear and exciting vision of positive pathways for young people through technical education into good jobs from age 14. Those pathways need to go all the way to the highest levels of learning and to open up great careers.
“Colleges already contribute so much in this area, and the roundtable is a great opportunity to build the local partnerships needed to scale that work up, with elected mayor’s leading. I’m pleased that the Education Secretary is bringing us all together, there’s a lot to win and a lot to plan for.”
Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, Leora Cruddas CBE said:
“I am pleased to be attending this important summit. Public institutions should be understood not simply as mechanisms for delivering services, but as enduring civic assets that generate belonging, trust, and democratic legitimacy.
“The strength of a nation depends on the vitality of its local institutions and the relationships between and among them. School trusts in England are civic institutions alongside further education colleges, universities, and NHS trusts, with the capacity to support civic leadership in place.”
Amazon UK Country Manager, John Boumphrey, said:
“Talent is evenly distributed across this country, but opportunity is not.
“At Amazon, around half the people who join our operations teams come either from unemployment or straight from education – including from communities where opportunity is hardest to find.
“When you give young people the right support, they thrive. It’s as simple as that. We’re proud to be helping every young person see a real route into a career.”
CEO of Education South West, Matthew Shanks, says:
“South Devon UTC, part of Education South West, shows what is possible when schools and employers genuinely work together as our students are gaining technical qualifications that are taking them into both employment and higher education.
“However, we also know that the system can work against this kind of collaboration, particularly where schools and colleges are competing for students rather than working together.
“These reforms are a real opportunity to change that, putting the needs and ambitions of young people ahead of institutional interests and giving technical education the same status as academic education.”
Chief Executive of Newcastle College Group, Liz Bromley, said:
“NCG welcomes the opportunity to help shape these exciting reforms that place technical and academic education on an equal footing, strengthen connections between education and employers, and give more young people a clear route from education into employment.
“As a national network of colleges serving very different communities across England, NCG is uniquely placed to bring both a local and national perspective to this discussion, with an understanding of devolved and non-devolved authorities. We see first-hand the importance of aligning education with local economic priorities, creating clear pathways and ensuring young people develop the skills, confidence and experiences that employers value.
“We are delighted that this government recognises that every young person deserves a clear route into employment, further learning and a successful future, regardless of where they live or the challenges they have faced.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said:
“Every young person deserves the chance to stay near and go far. We’ve got brilliant young people in every part of our country. The challenge isn’t talent; it’s making sure that talent is connected to real opportunities.
“If we’re serious about building a better economy and allowing young people to fulfil their potential, then we need to give local communities and businesses the chance to shape policies that really work for their areas.
“By working together, we can build a system that gives young people the skills they need to succeed and employers the workforce they need to grow.”
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said:
“I welcome the opportunity to be involved in this crucial policy development.
“We are ready to build on what we’re already doing in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to improve access to good quality technical education and boost apprenticeships, internships and work experience. Giving clearer pathways into high-skilled jobs will also help tackle significant challenges around young people not in education, employment or training.
“Mayoral authorities like ours are best placed to lead on this. We can advise on what our economy needs, and the potential changes to the education and training system which can help us build the pipeline of young talent to grow it.”
Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said:
“I’m delighted to be joining so many passionate and motivated local leaders at the Rewiring Education event at No10 North.
“Every young person should have the opportunity to build the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed. As the country’s fastest-growing regional economy, the West of England is already putting technical education at the heart of our plans, working with employers, schools, and colleges to create pathways for young people into the jobs our region needs.
“With greater powers through devolution and ambitious educational reform, we are now in an even stronger position to achieve our ambition to be the first NEET Zero region in the country.”
Jim Bailey, Principal of The JCB Academy said:
“For too long, the importance of technical education has been overlooked. Employers need young people who understand the skills and behaviours required for the modern workplace.
“We welcome this initiative and hope it leads to a clear, coherent strategy that genuinely equips young people for future success in the workplace.
“The JCB Academy knows, as do other UTCs, that when educational provision is shaped around the needs of young people and employers while reflecting the local context, schools can be truly inclusive and deliver positive outcomes for all.”
Attendees to No10 North include:
| Howard Dawber OBE | Deputy Mayor, Business and Growth | Greater London Authority |
| Bev Craig OBE | Mayor | Greater Manchester Combined Authority |
| Steve Rotheram | Mayor | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority |
| Kim McGuinness | Mayor | North East Mayoral Strategic Authority |
| Oliver Coppard | Mayor | South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority |
| Richard Parker | Mayor | West Midlands Combined Authority |
| Tracy Brabin | Mayor | West Yorkshire Combined Authority |
| David Skaith | Mayor | York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority |
| Claire Ward | Mayor | East Midlands Combined County Authority |
| Helen Godwin | Mayor | West of England Combined Authority |
| Paul Bristow | Mayor | Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority |
| Luke Campbell MBE | Mayor | Hull & East Yorkshire Combined Authority |
| Dame Andrea Jenkyns | Mayor | Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority |
| Pepe Di’Iasio | General Secretary | Association of School and College Leaders |
| Paul Whiteman | General Secretary | National Association of Head Teachers |
| Leora Cruddas CBE | Chief Executive | Confederation of School Trusts |
| David Hughes CBE | Chief Executive | Association of Colleges |
| Bill Watkin CBE | Chief Executive | Sixth Form College Association |
| John Thornhill | Chief Executive | LTE Group |
| Damian Waters | Commercial Director | Confederation of British Industry |
| Paul Cherpeau | CEO Liverpool Chamber | British Chambers of Commerce |
| Henri Murison | CEO | The Northern Powerhouse Partnerhsip |
| John Boumphrey OBE | UK Country Manager | Amazon |
| Matthew Shanks | CEO | Education South West (SW) |
| Suzannah Reeves | Principal | Oldham Sixth Form College (NW) |
| Caroline Barlow | Headteacher | Heathfield Community College (SE) |
| Jim Bailey | Principal | JCB Academy (EM) |
| Liz Bromley | Chief Executive | Newcastle College Group (national) |
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