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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Business
Eleanor Busby

Teenagers in England to be offered new vocational GCSEs under Government reforms

Education Secretary Lucy Powell meets students studying construction at Harper Green School in Farnworth, Bolton, on GCSE results day. Picture date: Thursday August 20, 2026. - (PA Wire)

Teenagers in England will be able to study new vocational GCSEs and access more work experience opportunities under Government reforms to put technical and academic education on an equal footing.

The qualifications – which will sit alongside traditional GCSEs – will be available to 14-year-olds in some subjects from as early as September 2029, and they will eventually replace existing Technical Awards.

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