Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled detailed plans to “turbocharge growth in Greater Manchester” with a new technical education route, the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate — known as the MBacc.
Greater Manchester has worked with education and business leaders as well as young people to design seven MBacc gateways – each linked to a sector that is growing in Greater Manchester.
“Unlike the English Baccalaureate, which is geared towards the subjects top universities value, each MBacc gateway will guide young people to the subjects and qualifications most valued by the city-region’s employers …” said Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
“Recent data from the Office for National Statistics show that growth in Greater Manchester has outstripped UK growth, with annual productivity from 2015 to 2022 up an average of 1.8 per cent, compared to just 0.8 per cent nationally.
“However, the productivity gap between Greater Manchester and London is bigger than European counterparts like Lyon and Paris – highlighting the need to help young people, and the national economy, achieve their full potential.
“Each gateway will include real-world experience of the workplace from day one of the MBacc, with students expected to complete 50 hours of workplace experience between Years 9 and 11.
“There will also be a central application system for industrial placements, developed in partnership with the Careers & Enterprise Company, allowing young people to apply for work experience with prestigious employers across the city region – backed up by an additional 1,000 additional T Level industry placements pledged by businesses for those continuing on the technical pathway.
“The ambition is to grow this offer for all young people on technical pathways, with thousands more opportunities available by 2030.
“The Greater Manchester Business Board has also supported the development of a unique new tech certificate with the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The Applied Computing qualification will provide pupils on the MBacc route with a tailored, accessible learning experience, setting them up with digital skills for the workplace.”
Burnham said: “For too long the English education system has been built around the needs of just a third of young people who go to university. That means that every year, thousands go through school without a clear path into a good career.
“Our answer is the MBacc – a game-changing new plan for technical education. We’re using our devolved powers to reset the scales and give young people a clear line of sight to good jobs and the steps that will take them there.
“If we don’t make this change now, it could be the single biggest barrier to future growth – and to the life chances of young people here.
“The needs of our economy are changing, and right now the system is not capable of keeping pace and meeting the needs of businesses or the ambitions of the next generation.”