New ‘Advanced British Standard’ proposals – our response
October 4, 2023
What has been announced?
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The Prime Minister has announced the creation of a new Advanced British Standard that will combine academic and technical education for 16-19 year olds.
The new qualification will combine A-Levels and T-Levels into a single qualification and will see students take a larger number of subjects than they currently do.
The Government will be consulting this Autumn on the design and implementation of the Advanced British Standard, which we will be responding to.
Our response
Our Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Putting vocational education on the same footing as academic education is long overdue and sectors like hospitality will stand to benefit when this plan comes to fruition.
T-Levels are due to play a key part in the new Advanced British Standard, so this needs to be developed across hospitality and tourism in due course for the sector to benefit.
Until then, we need a suite of technical qualifications that meet the sector's needs.
“However, this is a long-term ambition that will take time and there remains the need for short-term action. In particular, reform of the apprenticeship levy to give businesses more control of the funding and flexibility of where it is spent.”
HS2 and 'Network North'
In his speech, the Prime Minister also announced that the rest of the HS2 project will be stopped and replaced with ‘Network North’, with £36 billion of funding.
“It’s very disappointing that a major infrastructure project like HS2 is being scrapped but investment in transport across the north of England, connecting cities and improving transport links, is positive. This investment will benefit commuters and leisure travellers alike,” Kate said.
“It is important that the country is as interconnected as possible and that infrastructure projects remain under constant review.”
