Staffordshire County Council's leader has broadly welcomed the Government's plans to introduce vocational courses linked to industry from Year 10 onwards, but has called for greater clarity on how the scheme will work locally.
Martin Murray said the announcement is "a step in the right direction to fix a failing system which is letting our young people down." He highlighted that the number of people not in education, employment or training has reached its highest level in over a decade.
Local context and existing plans
Murray addressed the issue at the recent Local Government Association conference, referencing the Milburn Review and describing youth unemployment as a national crisis.
Staffordshire County Council and its partners are already working to address the issue through two existing plans: the Get Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Working Plan and a new Skills for Growth Plan.
What the Government plans
The Government intends vocational learning in high schools to help address fundamental flaws in the current system and to link to local businesses and key sectors.
Murray said the courses need to be "shaped by local decision makers" and called for "greater moves towards devolution" to support this approach.
Next steps
The council leader said a "whole system approach" is needed rather than "a series of one-off initiatives." The county council now looks forward to working with the Government on greater detail on its plans.
