Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote alternatives to university to young people.

We want it to become the norm for young people to choose between an apprenticeship or university as equally prestigious routes to their career. We have placed a duty on schools to provide independent careers guidance for pupils in years 8-13 on the full range of options, including apprenticeships. We have published statutory guidance requiring schools to ensure that other providers, such as further education colleges, have the opportunity to inform pupils about their offer. The guidance also states that schools should offer pupils the opportunity to develop the entrepreneurial skills necessary for self-employment.

The guidance is published online at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-for-young-people-in-schools