Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe Andy Burnham’s announcement this week on post-14 vocational pathways marks another reset in education policy. Successive governments have promised to elevate technical education. This time, however, the ambition appears to have more conviction. The prime minister has linked technical learning directly to economic growth, productivity and tackling the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). That changes the conversation. The question is not simply whether England has the right curriculum and qualifications. It is whether we have built an education system that supports more people into work, enabling them to progress throughout their careers and respond to the fast-changing needs of the labour market. England has spent decades introducing new qualifications. Since 2020, T-levels and HTQs have been introduced. V Levels are expected to follow from September next year. Each policy announcement has been made in isolation, with little sense of an overarching strategy. Yet a framework is beginning to emerge that helps to build a pathway from levels 3 to 5 and above, from school and college to higher learning and employment. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.