Burnham Takes 7-Track MBacc National to Overhaul England Technical Education

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 28

England will extend the Manchester Baccalaureate nationwide, with Andy Burnham pitching it as a new framework for technical education rather than another standalone qualification.
From Year 10, pupils would get more vocational course options and work experience, aiming to create a clearer route from school into practical jobs and local industries.
The model maps pathways across seven sectors, from construction and digital to health care and manufacturing, mirroring areas already targeted by T-levels and other reforms.
In Greater Manchester, MBacc has reached 101 secondary schools and colleges—about 40% of the total—and 1,405 young people accessed workplace experiences in its second year.
Its longer-term goals are ambitious: a clear path to good jobs for every young person by 2030 and 45 days of work experience by age 19 by 2035, though scaling it across weaker local economies remains a challenge.