Knowledge Economy: Young People

(asked on 22nd January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to prepare young people to participate in the knowledge economy.


Answered by
Chris Skidmore Portrait
Chris Skidmore
This question was answered on 28th January 2019

​We agree that the Knowledge Economy is important, and we are making key reforms across education which will give young people the opportunities to gain the education, skills and knowledge they will need in the Knowledge Economy.

In 2016 the government published a white paper, ‘Success as a Knowledge Economy’, which set out our proposals to help support the UK succeed as a knowledge economy. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-success-as-a-knowledge-economy-white-paper.

Following this white paper, we introduced the Teaching Excellence Framework, which aims to assess, recognise and reward high quality teaching in higher education. Its purpose is to drive up the standard of teaching, give students clear information about where teaching quality is best and information about where students have achieved the best outcomes.

Through the Higher Education Research Act (2017), the Office for Students, a new regulator for the higher education sector was established. Its focus is to ensure that any student with the ability to benefit from higher education is supported in doing so, and that they have a positive experience and receive worthwhile outcomes.

Building on the apprenticeship programme, which provides employment and high quality training in a range of professions, we have also established degree apprenticeships. They sit alongside the higher education academic offer and provide another route for people to gain the knowledge and skills that they need.

We are also making key reforms to technical education by introducing T levels which will provide high quality, technical qualifications to rival traditional academic options. We are addressing technical needs at level 4 and 5, looking at how classroom-based education - particularly technical education - meets the needs of learners and employers. In addition, we have announced our intention to establish a system of employer-led national standards for higher technical education.

In schools we have overhauled a curriculum that was denying pupils the core academic knowledge, reformed the examination system, are actively encouraging take-up of science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, improving the quality of the schools teaching profession and raising standards.

​These polices help provide young people with a wide range of opportunities to gain the education, skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their chosen path.

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