In Detail, In Brief: The future of post-16 education
- Bristol South
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Regular readers will know that every year I host a Jobs and Apprenticeship Fair at the South Bristol Skills Academy in Hengrove. The event has grown from strength to strength since the inaugural Fair in 2016 providing thousands with the opportunity to get into work or a training placement. The next fair will be held on 12 February 2026.
However, despite significant efforts by our schools and colleges, far too many young people in Bristol South are denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential. They do not have the chance to secure the sort of skilled job, with a good salary, that others in our city take for granted. Despite Bristol’s economic success and two universities, some communities in the constituency are in the top 0.15% for educational deprivation in England.
Action is already underway to address this. The Government’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme is already providing support to help young people in south Bristol into work, education and training. The University of Bristol’s micro-campus has now opened in Withywood and will offer bespoke qualifications to help develop meaningful careers.
But more needs to be done and the Government’s recent Skills White Paper points the way. The White Paper heralds a revolution in post-16 skills and education with the introduction of V levels, which will sit alongside A levels and T levels. These will replace the confusing array of around 900 vocational courses. In future young people will be provided with a simple, clear and high-quality route to the career of their choice. There will also be a new “stepping stone” qualification in English and Maths, a reflection of the reality that one size really does not fit all learners.
Young people will also be provided with information about the outcomes associated with different qualifications, so they can make genuinely informed choices about their future, along with two weeks work experience whilst at secondary school.
For those for whom university is the best option, targeted maintenance grants for students will be reintroduced. Students from some of the lowest income households will receive financial support to enrol in priority courses.
In the manifesto on which I stood for election, Labour promised a future where children are equipped with the skills to thrive. Our plans for post-16 education, alongside a new curriculum for schools, will help deliver that promise. I am pleased to see that leaders across the further and higher education sectors have welcomed the proposed changes
