Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was in bullish mood yesterday (Friday June 29) as he described his plans for a 'Manchester Baccalaureate' (MBacc) to create a clearer path for young people who don't want to go to university.
Appearing by video at a major education conference in Sheffield he said: "We're not going to take no for an answer. We're going to build this system, it's right and proper in this day and age that a place like Greater Manchester shouldn't have to ask permission from anyone to do what we know is right for our young people."
But it's clear his vision for an alternative to the existing English Baccalaureate (EBacc) core subjects for GCSE students face strong opposition from the Department of Education, long regarded as the Whitehall department least likely to cede control of policy to the regions.
