The government has announced a second wave of University Technical Colleges. Five exist already and 13 more will join those ranks and offer a new kind of education.
I am anxious that when wave three is announced, next year, we will have one of these colleges in Birkenhead.
For most of my time as MP I have been conscious of how we fail many young people by offering school courses which bore them. I had long talks with Mrs T trying to persuade her to establish a network of technical schools.
So when Lord Baker, himself an education secretary under Mrs T, set up a Trust to establish a string of UTCs I jumped at his invitation to join his Trust.
Our aim is to allow young people the chance at 14 to begin to gain a high class apprenticeship. My own view is that many young people who successfully gain quality apprenticeships earn more over their lifetime than quite a few students who go to university.
Our bid will be headed by John Syvret at Cammell Lairds and when we’re successful, it will be the first UTC headed by a successful business man. Other colleges have a lot of support from business leaders and companies, but no bid has yet been headed by one.
It’s crucial of course that our proposed UTC works with existing providers of apprenticeships, and particularly the Metropolitan College.
Esther McVey has been very helpful in keeping ministers informed of our developments that are backed by Wirral Council.
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