The timeframe for new 14-16 technical routes is “probably” sufficient, according to the managing director of one of England’s biggest exam boards.
There have been concerns expressed that the September 2028 target for initial phasing in of prime minister Andy Burnham’s flagship education policy is too tight and will heap pressure on schools.
In an exclusive interview with Vlog, Pearson’s Freya Thomas Monk suggested the plan was likely to be achievable in that time.
However, she made her comments before an announcement from the government last night that new vocational GCSEs - replacing existing Technical Awards - would be created to sit alongside traditional GCSEs from 2029.
Vlog also asked Ms Thomas Monk about the delayed return of Sats results and whether schools should have confidence that similar issues would not arise next year, but said she would not comment on this until an ongoing inquiry is completed.
Technical pathways ‘probably’ doable from 2028
In July, the government said it will introduce new vocational routes for 14‑year‑olds in schools on a phased basis from September 2028, as part of Mr Burnham’s wider drive to reduce youth unemployment.
When asked whether two years was sufficient to deliver the plans, Ms Thomas Monk said it was “probably” enough time. She did not consider the target tight, but stressed that the sector was “waiting for the detail” that would make clearer what the new technical routes entail - some of that detail emerged last night.
She said: “When I go and talk to school leaders and teachers, [they] are well equipped, know their students and know the sectors and the communities that they serve.”
Ms Thomas Monk believes that “the ingenuity and ability to really design great pathways and to serve the students within their remit is, I think, absolutely there” and, on the time available, said: “I wouldn’t say that that is tight.”
She added: “Some sectors may have more challenges than others, I’m quite sure, but I don’t think I have further comment on whether or not two years is the right amount of time.”
Ms Thomas Monk’s cautious optimism about the timeframe differs from the view of Liberal Democrats education spokesperson Munira Wilson, who - in comments also made before last night’s government announcement of new vocational GCSEs from 2029 - has cast doubt on the target and suggested it was not “properly thought through”.
Need for new qualifications played down
The government previously suggested that, while the new routes would not be accompanied by new qualifications upon initial launch in September 2028, this may change further down the line. Last night’s announcement confirmed that the new vocational qualifications would be available in some subjects from as early as September 2029.
Ms Thomas Monk had played down the need for new qualifications as technical routes gradually come on board and advised caution as new pathways are devised.
She stressed that there is a “difference between a pathway and a qualification”, with pathways amounting to “combinations of qualifications in different configurations”.
Weighing up the “different qualifications in the mix” was “different to overhauling a specific qualification”, she said.
Right to think about changes ‘very cautiously’
Ms Thomas Monk said that England has “a really high-quality, very thorough and fair exam system”, including GCSEs, A levels and T levels, so “it’s right to think about changes to that very cautiously”.
She added: “I would say I have real confidence in the structure and design of the existing qualifications that young people take at 16.”
She also stressed that over 40 per cent of young people - the qualification that the government has now said will be replaced by vocational GCSEs - alongside traditional GCSEs at the age of 16, “so this is not a brand-new thing that’s coming forward”.
She added that the new focus on vocational education was welcome, as “having that in the mix at 16 is a really motivational thing for many, many students”.
Ms Thomas Monk’s comments came before the interim findings of an OCR research report on vocational studies were published this week, revealing teachers valued technical studies but were frustrated by “structural barriers” affecting wider uptake.
‘Not the moment’ to discuss Sats
Meanwhile, Ms Thomas Monk refused to be drawn on the recent Sats marking failings presided over by Pearson - results were delayed by more than one week, as revealed by Vlog - insisting that she must wait for the conclusion of an ongoing inquiry before commenting.
When asked why Pearson was able to deliver GCSEs and A levels smoothly, but not Sats, she said she was unable to talk about this issue because there was an “active discussion underway” with the DfE.
Dame Christine Gilbert is leading a DfE review following the delay, so Ms Thomas Monk said that “now is not the moment for us to talk about Sats”.
When asked what lessons Pearson had learned, she said: “I will just make one comment on that, which is we learn always from everything that we do, we continue to learn and improve how we operate - it’s standard practice. It’s wired into how we work.”
She would also not comment on whether schools could feel confident that similar issues may arise with Sats in 2027.
Ms Thomas Monk referred Vlog back to the statement Pearson made at the time of the delayed results, when the exam board said: “We apologise unreservedly for the disruption caused to our government partners, teachers and families.”
