On Monday, 30 September, Education Secretary announced a series of
measures to help make sure the country can continue to build the
skilled workforce it needs for the future and improve
productivity. This includes an ambition to boost further
education over the next decade with the aim of overtaking Germany
in the opportunities offered to students studying technical
routes by 2029.
The government recently announced an additional £400 million for
sixth forms and colleges for 2020-2021 - the single biggest
annual uplift since 2010. The new measures will build on this
significant investment and support the government’s ongoing work
to transform technical education including through the
introduction of new T Level qualifications from next year, new
Institutes of Technology and the creation of more high-quality
apprenticeship opportunities.
Second wave of Institutes of Technology planned
The government will provide up to £120 million of additional
funding to enable every region in England to establish a
high-quality Institute of Technology.
Institutes of Technology are unique collaborations between
further education colleges, universities, and employers –
including Nissan and Microsoft – offering higher technical
education and training mainly at Levels 4 and 5 (above A levels
and T Levels but below degree level) in key sectors such as
digital, construction, advanced manufacturing and engineering.
Twelve Institutes are
already being established across the country – backed by
£170 million of government investment – to provide employers with
the skilled workforce they need to drive growth and productivity
across the country and get more people into rewarding jobs.
To build on this, the government will launch a second competition
with the aim of establishing up to 8 more Institutes in areas of
the country that do not currently have access to one.
New Skills and Productivity Board
A new Skills and Productivity Board will also be established to
provide the government with expert advice on how to ensure the
courses and qualifications on offer to students are high-quality,
are aligned to the skills that employers need for the future and
will help increase productivity.
More specialist maths schools
To continue driving up standards and support more disadvantaged
young people aged 16-19 to study maths, Mr Williamson also
committed to opening a network of 11 Maths Free Schools across
every region of the country – and confirmed that a new Maths Free
School will open in the North East through a partnership between
Durham University and Durham Sixth Form College.
Maths Schools offer A levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics
in partnership with top universities – helping young people,
whatever their background, to fulfil their potential by learning
from the best mathematicians.
These schools will build on the successes of the Maths Schools
run by the University of Exeter,
in partnership with Exeter College, and King’s College
London – in 2018, 99% of King’s mathematics students
achieved an A or A* in A Level mathematics, for Exeter this was
85%.
STEM subjects – which include maths – are some of the most
in-demand skillsets in the labour market. Maths is already the
post popular subject at A Level, with almost 25% of students
choosing to study it.
