Writing for the Guardian, Nicholas Watt reports on the Sutton Trust/Pearson Summit.

The first generation to be born in the 21st century will be worse off than their parents unless changes are made to open up the education system, Ed Miliband will say on Tuesday as he outlines plan for new technical degrees.

The Labour leader will warn that the country risks “going into decline” unless it creates greater opportunities for the so called “forgotten 50%” of young people who choose not to follow a traditional academic route.

Miliband will say that a Labour government would introduce new technical degrees to meet the demand for hundreds of thousands of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) technicians needed for infrastructure projects such as the new high speed rail line and the Thames Tideway……

…..At the moment there are 100,000 people on Level 3 apprenticeships. The Sutton Trust, whose Higher Ambitions summit will be opened by Miliband, says that this needs to be increased to 200,000 or 300,000.

Miliband will say in his speech to the summit that the new technical degrees will be the priority for the expansion of university places.

Read the full story by Nicholas Watt here

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