Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jack Brereton and Andrea Jenkyns

Monday 24th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Con)]

5. What steps he is taking to ensure that students have access to high-quality vocational alternatives to A-levels.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Andrea Jenkyns)]

We are reforming technical education to ensure that all post-16 students have access to technical options that support progression and meet employers’ needs. We have introduced T-levels, a new high-quality programme designed with employers that will give learners the knowledge and experience needed for skilled employment and further study, including higher education or higher apprenticeships. We are also reviewing existing qualifications that sit alongside A-levels and T-levels to ensure they are high quality and lead to good outcomes for students.

[Jack Brereton]

We have some fantastic creative and manufacturing industries in Stoke-on-Trent, but many of these industries say to me that they often struggle to fill certain vacancies. Will my hon. Friend look at what more we can do to help to incentivise vocational skills to get our economy growing?

[Andrea Jenkyns]

I know this is of great importance to my hon. Friend. Many different sectors face skills needs and challenges, which is why we are investing in skills through T-levels, apprenticeships, skills boot camps and free courses for jobs, giving people of all ages the opportunity to obtain the skills that industries like and that support economic growth.