Following Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP‘s commitment in Budget 2024 of £1.4 billion to rebuild schools, Baker Dearing Educational Trust chief executive Simon Connell has released the following comment.
“We welcome the government’s investment in the school estate. However, this should not be about rebuilding the schools of the 1950s and 1960s.
“Secondary schools in receipt of this Budget funding could work with local employers to develop cutting-edge technical education facilities, to support their students’ progression to apprenticeships and careers in industries that need a pipeline of young professionals.
“The Baker Dearing Educational Trust is putting forward our idea of UTC Sleeves, based on the successful programme of 44 University Technical Colleges across England, as an oven-ready option for this. Each UTC Sleeve would deliver a technical education curriculum and work with employers to offer projects and work experience opportunities for students, better preparing 14- to 19-year-olds to work with green and digital technologies in fast-expanding industrial sectors.
“We believe UTC Sleeves could maximise the economic benefits of the school rebuilding programme and open up new career and learning opportunities for students.”
