Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people are able to experience technical education before they turn 16 years old in order to make an informed choice on (i) T-levels and (ii) other future educational options.

Pupils who study at University Technical Colleges (UTCs) study an integrated academic and technical curriculum from the start of Key Stage 4 (KS4). This enables them to experience technical education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum before they turn 16, informing their choices about future educational and career pathways.

Students at KS4 are able to take up to three Technical Awards alongside GCSEs that will count towards their school's Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores. Technical Awards are broad, high-quality level 1 and level 2 qualifications in non-English Baccalaureate subjects that equip students with applied knowledge not usually acquired through general education. They focus on applied study of a sector or occupational group, including the acquisition of associate practical or technical skills where appropriate. Each Technical Award is equivalent to a GCSE in robustness and challenge.

It is important that young people are able to make informed choices about their future education, training and jobs. Our careers strategy, published in December 2017, says that by 2020 schools should make sure that their students experience at least seven encounters with employers, at least one a year from year 7 to 13. Some of these encounters should be with employers working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

In January 2018, we introduced a new law which requires all maintained secondary schools and academies to make sure that students hear from a range providers about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. Further information about the new law can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/skills-minister-highlights-new-provider-access-law-for-schools.