Bridget Phillipson believes thousands of children are missing the chance of a fruitful career, leaving the nation short of workers in trades like construction.
This week she will unveil plans to revamp the careers service to give pupils a wider range of job options.
Oxford-educated Ms Phillipson, who grew up in a deprived part of Sunderland, is determined to ensure pupils from every background get a chance to go to a top university.
But she said: “The snobbery around skilled trades is holding back the growth that we need. It has held back our country for far too long and we need to turn it around.”
School careers advice will be improved and every child will do work experience, under plans to be highlighted at this week’s Labour conference. The aim is to encourage youngsters to consider careers such as construction or engineering.
At the same time, teachers benefiting from a bumper 5.5 per cent pay rise will be told they must be “more ambitious” for pupils, including pushing children from poorer backgrounds to consider applying to the nation’s most elite institutions.
And the Education Secretary signalled plans for a review of university funding “to look at all the options” and ensure young people aren’t put off studying for a degree by the prospect of massive debts.
In an exclusive interview ahead of Labour’s annual gathering in Liverpool, Ms Phillipson, 40, said she was “lucky” as the child growing up in a council house to attend a school which pushed her to achieve – but others are not so fortunate.
Esta historia es de la edición September 22, 2024 de Sunday Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 22, 2024 de Sunday Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Fourmidable Cole
PALMER'S SUBLIME QUARTET
TROSSARD FINDS HIS REDEMPTION
MIKEL ARTETA declared on Friday he didn't want Arsenal to be posted on YouTube \"for doing something silly\".
Labour's pledge on bone care
HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has once again vowed to keep his promise to transform fracture liaison services in the battle against osteoporosis.
Entertaining for a living is such a privilege people
Lucy Beaumont's on-screen relationship and subsequent break-up with husband and fellow comic Jon Richardson may have hit the headlines, but she tells RICHARD BARBER her UK tour is focused on much happier topics
Fears over auto 999 alerts sent by phone
A CORONER has issued a warning after police failed to immediately respond to an 999 alert sent by a car smash victim's iPhone.
The autism patients 'wrongly locked up'
THE SCANDAL of thousands of patients with learning disabilities and autism \"wrongly\" locked in solitary confinement will be ended, disability minister Sir Stephen Timms has pledged.
Rula: I regret not having closure with Dennis after our turbulent marriage
ACTRESS Rula Lenska has opened up about her difficult marriage to Dennis Waterman and says she regrets not having closure before his death in 2022 aged 74.
Shocking exposé of the disturbing dark world of influencer Tate's 'manosphere'
A minor kickboxer and failed reality TV star rose to become one of the world's most controversial figures, warping the minds of countless young men with his sexist ideology. But in a new book, two undercover investigators who penetrated Andrew Tate's inner circle discovered the truth is darker still.
Burnham blasts snobbery behind Blair's uni crusade
LABOUR made a \"terrible mistake\" by pushing young people to enter higher education without an ambitious plan for those not going to university, says Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Jenrick: I'll win back the red wall and kick out Keir
TORY leadership favourite Robert Jenrick today declares himself the heir to Boris Johnson with a vow to win back the \"red wall\" and kick Sir Keir Starmer out of Downing Street.