Commenting on plans announced by the Prime Minister to introduce new technical education pathways for pupils in England, Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:

“The Prime Minister has identified a significant issue with the learning offer made to secondary pupils in England. It is entirely legitimate for him to look at how programmes can be reshaped to support young people's engagement with and enjoyment of learning and create the breadth and balance that the current curriculum lacks.

“However, to date there is a dearth of detail on how these new pathways will work and how they will be integrated with the existing curriculum. It will be essential as further details of these proposals are developed that teachers and school leaders are able to help shape the structure and implementation of any plans.

“There are important changes already in train, including those to the curriculum and changes which have already been introduced to the inspection system, that have been developed without reference to the Prime Minister's aspirations. The government also has plans for significant changes to the system for supporting children and young people with SEND about which teachers have expressed profound concerns. The government will need to make sure that any changes in policy in this area are manageable for schools and cohere with wider policy.

“Serious curriculum and qualification reform also requires resources and funding. Currently, schools are under significant and increasing financial pressure. They are being asked to do even more with even less. No successful and sustainable package of change is deliverable in such circumstances and the Prime Minister must take action to invest in education if the aims of this announcement are to become a reality.”