Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14 differ from technical education available to pupils through existing Key Stage 4 qualifications.

The existing key stage 4 qualifications offer enables pupils to take Level 1 and 2 Technical Awards alongside GCSEs. The proposed technical education pathways will initially draw on the existing key stage 4 Technical Awards while the Department works with Ofqual to develop new vocational GCSEs which support progression into A Levels, T Levels, V Levels, apprenticeships, universities and beyond. The first vocational GCSEs could be introduced in some subjects from September 2029.

The department will also work with schools and key partners, such as Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, to facilitate and encourage access to high-quality vocational qualifications, careers guidance, relevant work experience placements, and map how this supports progression into locally available post-16 qualifications, training and employment.