On Tuesday, Andy Burnham unveiled plans described as the biggest education shake-up in 15 years, aimed at ending a system he says has prioritised university preparation over technical training

From Year 10, pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects like English and maths with technical education linked to jobs available in their local area, with the new pathways rolled out from September 2028

The government also announced a bursary of up to £4,500 to help teenagers in universal credit households take up apprenticeships, aimed at removing fears that starting an apprenticeship could cost their family benefits

Burnham said he is “on a mission” to bring down the number of young people not in education, employment or training, which now stands at more than one million, though he stopped short of setting a target date

Speaking during a visit to Derby, he said: “Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a shake-up in how we do things”