Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department’s proposed Management Information System procurement framework will require all schools within a multi-academy trust to procure Management Information System products through the same framework, supplier or procurement approach.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer to paragraph 2.30 of the Academies Trust Handbook 2026 which provides the requirement for trusts in England regarding procurement of Management Information Systems from the launch of the proposed framework and the approach to be taken until the framework is live. The handbook is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-trust-handbook/academy-trust-handbook-2026-effective-from-1-october-2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential costs to schools and academy trusts of moving from existing Management Information System contracts to suppliers or products available through its proposed procurement framework, including (a) contract termination costs, (b) data migration costs, (c) implementation costs and (d) staff training costs.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Schools are classified as Contracting Authorities under the Procurement Act 2023 and are expected to comply with that legislation in addition to the principles set out in the Managing Public Money Green Book.

Therefore, there is already a pre-existing expectation for the sector to routinely test the market and to demonstrate compliance with both procurement legislation and the MPM Green Book for all categories of spend including spend on management information systems. The requirement to use the framework for MIS once it is launched is to be followed at the natural expiry of current contracts. The sector is not expected to terminate contracts early in order to award a contract under the framework.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schools and academy trusts with existing Management Information System contracts will be required to move to the proposed framework when those contracts expire; and whether exemptions will be available where an existing or alternative procurement arrangement represents better value for money.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The requirement to use the framework for MIS once it is launched is to be followed at the natural expiry of current contracts. The sector are not expected to terminate contracts early in order to award a contract under the framework. An exemption to using the framework will be available for schools who do not have sufficient network connectivity to host a cloud-based MIS solution. Due to the wider concerns raised to us by the sector the primary objective of the framework is to tackle reported poor supplier behaviour and provide benefits to the sector including more balanced terms and conditions, easier migration to new suppliers, better price transparency and overall better value for money.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the additional transport costs for pupils who need to travel to another school, college or provider to access a technical education pathway from the age of 14.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the respective roles of pupils, parents, schools, colleges and local leaders in determining whether a pupil aged 14 follows an academic or technical education pathway.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost to employers of providing work experience and employer engagement as part of the proposed technical education pathways from September 2028.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the evidence on the appropriate age for pupils to begin specialising in technical education.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether pupils undertaking a technical education pathway from age 14 will be required to study GCSE English and mathematics alongside that pathway and what proportion of curriculum time the Government expects schools to allocate to those subjects.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of proposed funding arrangements for enabling small and rural schools to offer technical education pathways without reducing the range of other subjects on offer.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what arrangements she plans to put in place for pupils who wish to undertake a technical education pathway that is not available at their school or within reasonable travelling distance.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed technical education pathways on the range of subjects that secondary schools will be able to offer at Key Stage 4.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of additional teachers, lecturers and technical specialists required to deliver the proposed technical education pathways from September 2028.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what minimum number of hours of work experience each pupil undertaking a technical education pathway from age 14 will complete before the end of Key Stage 4.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what outcomes she plans to use to assess the success of the proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of existing Department for Education budgets to fund the introduction of technical education pathways from September 2028.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the risk of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds being disproportionately directed towards technical education pathways from age 14.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Ofsted's specialist expertise and capacity to assess the quality of technical education pathways from September 2028.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to introduce measures to ensure that pupils who begin a technical education pathway at age 14 can subsequently transfer to an academic pathway.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much will secondary schools be required to deliver technical education pathways, rather than through further education colleges or other providers, from September 2028.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.

High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.

Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.

Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce named UK Chamber of the Year 2026