A series of reforms have been announced for the transformation of technical education which will give young people clear training routes at the same level as academic qualifications.

The reforms will be based on the recommendations of Lord Sainsbury’s independent panel on technical education and will be taken on by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

With the new reforms, students will be able to choose between either a technical or academic pathway upon the completion of their GCSE examinations at 16.

If they decide to choose a technical route then they will be able to pursue a vocational scheme such as an apprenticeship or training in a college.

After this, students will be able to move between academic and technical routes, with progression onto a higher apprenticeship, a degree or higher technical education.

Students will commence with one of 15 new pathways, which include manufacturing, engineering and construction, while they will also have the chance to take a traineeship or a transition year in preparation for their training scheme.

All college programmes will include training in digital skills, maths and English, with the reforms set to be introduced for students who will be taking their GCSEs in 2019.

CITB Director of Policy, Steve Radley, said that construction companies have wanted to see new entrants receive a broader base of knowledge before they specialise for some time, and this is one of the goals of the Government’s new Skills Plan.

He added: “This will give learners a better understanding of construction as a whole and the more adaptable skills employers are looking for.

“Learners will also be able to move more easily between technical and academic routes, so that no options are closed off when they choose a pathway at 16. This should put technical and academic learning on a more even footing and encourage more people to join construction.”