Justine Greening sets out vision for Technical Education

The Education Secretary Justine Greening has used her first major speech since the General Election to set out the scale of ambition for technical education reform.

Addressing business leaders at today’s (6 July) British Chambers of Commerce Education summit, she called for businesses to work with government in order to ensure that the reform of technical education is a success.

The Secretary of State said:

“Great companies need great people. And my Department has a mission to give our young people the very best start – to become those great people ...The introduction of T-Levels will be the next stage in this journey - a gold standard for technical and professional excellence. Offered alongside apprenticeships, they will form the basis of our new technical education system.”

In late 2015 David Sainsbury was asked by government to chair a panel of experts that would provide clear recommendations for measures that would transform technical education in England. The panel’s recommendations were accepted in full and formed the basis of the Skill’s Plan that sets out the reforms.

Responding to the Secretary of State’s speech, David Sainsbury said:

“The introduction of T-levels is an essential reform to technical education. England must develop world-class technical qualifications that will maintain the confidence of employers not just for a few years, but for decades to come. This is not something to be rushed." 

During her speech Justine Greening also reiterated a commitment in the Spring Budget to support work placements – a key component of T-levels – by announcing that work would begin from April 2018 to invest £50 million to fund high quality work placements to help prepare young people for skilled work.

Click here to find out more about Gatsby is supporting technical education reform. 

Visit the DfE website for a transcription of Justine Greening's speech.