Prioritise regional education reforms over university progression, says Labour mayor

The current education system is failing to meet the diverse needs of young people and must be reformed to engage those not wanting to progress to university, Labour’s Andy Burnham has argued.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has claimed that a post-16 education system geared towards university progression was one of the driving forces behind the growing number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs).

He told the Institute for Government that a region-based education reform was needed to tackle the problem.

Under the current system, schools are assessed based on their students’ performance in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc).

While the EBacc includes GCSEs which are considered essential for many university degrees, including English and maths, it does not encompass many subjects which are more suited to vocational qualifications or careers.

Burnham argued that the focus on university progression […] is contributing to the high rate of young people who are unemployed or not in education

Burnham argued that this reflects a system which underserves the majority of young people, with many choosing to take a vocational path over the traditional university route.

In Burnham’s Greater Manchester, for example, around two-thirds of pupils do not attend university after leaving compulsory education.

The former cabinet minister argued that this focus on university progression along with other factors, such as low student wellbeing, is contributing to the high rate of young people who are unemployed or not in education.

The number of NEETs rose to nearly one million last December, the highest figure since 2013.

Devolution of the post-16 technical system was presented by Burnham as a possible solution to help address the rising number of NEETs.

He argued that regional governments were best placed to design qualifications suited to their unique economies, and to achieve a greater balance between the academic and technical curriculum.

As an alternative to the current system, the Mayor and his team have developed a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) in his region.

The MBacc, which includes subject pathways such as Engineering and Manufacturing, is designed to link students directly to key sectors in the Greater Manchester economy.

I have great respect for Whitehall […] but it is not wired for growth. Devolution needs to go much deeper and faster if we are to get the growth we need

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

The project also aims to provide a 45-day work placement for every interested pupil by 2030.

Burnham encouraged the Department for Education (DfE) to support the MBacc as a national pilot, saying: “Let’s work out a plan together and test it.”

“As a former minister, I have great respect for Whitehall and for the people who work within it. But it is not wired for growth”, he argued, “Devolution needs to go much deeper and faster if we are to get the growth we need.”

Alongside his plans, Burnham has continued to support universities in his region, appreciating the role they play through their research and outreach.

Following a speech on the future of devolution at the University of Manchester, Burnham said: “Universities have been some of our most instrumental partners over the years, helping us build an intellectual case for our strategy. I look forward to our continued work with the University of Manchester as we look to upskill and develop our talent across the city-region.”

A spokesperson for DfE has said that driving young people back into education or employment is “key” in supporting the Government’s economic plans, but added that changes would be made under the national Youth Guarantee instead of regional reforms.

The spokesperson added: “Through our new Youth Guarantee, every 18- to 21-year-old in England will have help to access an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job… to ensure pupils are set up for life, work and the future.”