Education
New vocational GCSEs to launch in England from 2029 in education shake-up
September 24, 2026 at 03:55 AM · Updated 22d ago
Coverage
3 reports · over 14 hours
TGThe Guardian
Did you sit vocational qualifications in the past and more recently in England? We would like to hear from you
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Teenagers to be offered new vocational GCSE subjects in school
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TGThe Guardian
Pupils to be offered vocational GCSEs in radical shake-up of system in England
(opens the publisher’s site)Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new vocational GCSEs for 14-year-olds in England from 2029, alongside a target of 200,000 new work experience placements.
- The two-year courses, regulated by Ofqual to match academic GCSE standards, will cover construction, business management and child development.
- The new qualifications will gradually replace existing level-two technical awards such as BTec tech awards.
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the courses would give young people a stronger connection to careers and industries.
- Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said the plans risked "throwing away" recent progress in England's school standards.
- The new vocational GCSEs will also cover creative media, the Department for Education confirmed.
- The department said the two-year courses will have nationally set content and grading.