Building and construction could be among new vocational GCSEs

Building and construction could be among the subjects included in a new system of vocational GCSEs announced today by the education ministry.

The new qualifications will be the same size as, and will sit alongside, traditional GCSEs and will be nationally set, with assessment and grading regulated by Ofqual.

They will eventually replace Technical Awards, which vary by provider with no nationally set content, and according to the Department for Education (DfE) do not “consistently support progression to further study”.

The DfE said the new courses would be available in some subjects from as early as September 2029.

It said that subjects could include business management and finance, creative media production, digital tech, child development, and building and construction.

There will also be new subjects developed as part of a review of existing GCSEs and vocational qualifications.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) welcomed the announcement, with David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs, saying they would “benefit students who may struggle with more rigid academic routes”.  

“However, the Government has said Building and Construction could be included as an option, rather than confirming it will be,” he said.

“To help schools and industry plan, we need clarity on what that means, including how subjects will be selected, when consultation will take place and how employers and professional bodies will be involved.”

Barnes said the CIOB’s research showed a strong appetite among young people to learn more about construction but that almost half (45%) of 16-to-24-year-olds said the industry was not included in careers advice received while in education.  

“For these vocational courses to be successful they must be promoted to students and parents as viable options,” he said, adding that consideration also needed to be given to the difficulty in recruiting teachers for built environment courses.

Alongside the reform to classroom education, the government is also launching a ‘national mission on work experience’, partnering with the Good Growth Business Forum and others to boost opportunities for placements.

The DfE described it as a “call to arms” to employers to provide an additional 200,000 work experience placements, with mayors and local authorities tasked with establishing links between schools and workplaces.

According to the department, this could include spending time in accountancy firms, digital media companies or construction companies.

“Young people today are entering a world of work full of exciting opportunities. We need to prepare them for it,” said education secretary Lucy Powell.

“Time and again young people, parents and employers tell me they want schools to do more to help them understand and prepare for the jobs of the future.

“That is why we are transforming technical education and ensuring every young person can access the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to thrive in a changing world.”