'Vocational GCSEs can give every child the opportunity to get great jobs'

'Vocational GCSEs can give every child the opportunity to get great jobs' 'Young people's futures depend on what we do as a Labour government and nothing is a bigger responsibility', the Education Secretary Lucy Powell writes for The Mirror For me, as Education Secretary and as a mum, young people are my priority. Their futures depend on what we do as a Labour government and nothing is a bigger responsibility. That's why this week, Andy and I announced a new swath of vocational GCSEs - putting technical and academic education on equal footing, and giving every young person the skills and experience to thrive in a changing world. This matters because, for too long, technical and vocational education has been neglected. Existing qualifications have no nationally set content, often aren’t as respected, and haven’t received the same attention to quality, curriculum and professional development as their academic counterparts. This isn’t good enough. We will extend high standards and excellence to all subjects, just as we have in English, maths and science. And we must remember that behind every debate on standards, curriculum and funding is a real child, in a real classroom, with real ambition. I saw that first-hand this week. Visiting Broughton High was both validating and inspiring. Validating because I saw exactly why what we’re introducing with our new Vocational GCSEs are crucial. Inspiring because I saw how it can work, how students benefit from it, and how teachers are already delivering it really well. I joined an engineering class, where year 10 students were building a cantilever digger, honing their maths skills, using their hands and problem-solving, working as a team, communicating and overcoming challenges. The atmosphere was buzzing, with students loving what they were learning. They’re going to leave school with the skills and experience to thrive in further study and eventually great careers. It’s only right that we upgrade our qualifications to support experiences like this, so that more young people can leave school with respected and valued qualifications that close the gap between the classroom and the workplace. None of these kids felt that what they were doing was second-rate to their peers who had made more traditional subject choices. They all had their eyes on apprenticeships at BAE nearby, wanting to be aerospace engineers and pilots and a host of other fascinating, important jobs. Ambition, inspiration and motivation were certainly not in short supply. That’s why I’m bringing this in nationwide so children everywhere can pursue practical and technical subjects alongside academic study which give them a clearer line of sight into work and the great jobs of the future. I’ve heard about how needed it is, from schools, employers, parents and kids. I’ve seen it can be done in schools up and down the country. And we will all feel the benefits of it rippling through this generation. 'Andy Burnham has united party' I'd be revealing my age if I admitted how many Labour conferences I've been to. But this one feels different. It's my first as Deputy Leader, and our first with Andy Burnham as Leader. But more than that, we're heading into this period with renewed purpose - with a clear vision for the country we want to build. Fairer and more united. A Labour Party that puts ordinary people at the heart of everything it does, unafraid to take on the vested interests that hold this back. A lot has happened in the last year since we gathered in Liverpool. We hope people give us a second chance, a second look. Andy has got off to a great start as our new Prime Minister. But his speech on Tuesday is a big moment. No pressure Andy! 'PM opened debate on drinks in the stands' The PM's opened up the debate on drinking in football stands. I'm a Man City season ticket holder, and I take my teenage son most weeks - it's the highlight of our week. The atmosphere is a far cry from that of 30 years ago. Thankfully, football's come a long way since then. I understand the views on all sides in this debate, but it’s one we should have. 'Worried about Oasis tickets' Woke up this morning feeling anxious, not because I'm opening conference, but because I'm still waiting for my Oasis tour code to drop into my inbox. It's not just me. These gigs are a huge boost for local economies - just ask any hotel or pub in Manchester the last time a big tour came through.