It’s time to take higher learning to another level

THIS month, the Prime Minister announced a bold target: two-thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning by age 25, up from 50% today.

- Baroness Jacqui Smith is Skills Minister.

Crucially, this isn’t just about universities — it includes technical education and apprenticeships.

There's even a specific target to nearly double the number pursuing higher technical education or apprenticeships to at least 10% by 2040.

For years, technical education has been seen as the less prestigious route to pursue. But we're turning the tables on that.

T Levels are at the heart of making this happen. For too long, we've seen talented young people slip through the cracks - not in education, employment or training - simply because the system didn’t offer them the right pathway.

T Levels changed that and we're taking it even further with our upcoming White Paper.

These are tough, practical qualifications, equivalent to three A levels, developed directly with employers to give young people the exact skills businesses need.

There are 21 T Levels available, in subjects from Digital to Engineering, and from Construction to Education and Early Years.