Middle-class parents should open their minds to apprenticeships, according to Gavin Williamson.
The Education Secretary has previously criticised “inbuilt snobbishness” regarding further education and said that some families expect their children to go to university as a “rite of passage”.
The number of school leavers applying to universities has risen by 10% in a year and the number of courses available through clearing at selective universities has fallen by a third.
Theresa May decried perceptions of apprenticeships as being for “other people’s children”, but middle-class attitudes to apprenticeships were changing, Williamson said.
He said that university was “just one of the many options for young people to consider to help them make the best decision to pursue world-class careers, including considering an apprenticeship alongside traditional university courses. Apprenticeships are being seen in a new light. Close to four in five students this year have considered an apprenticeship and a fifth say it is their main plan.
“These figures may suggest changing middle-class attitudes toward apprenticeships and that would be a huge and welcome change that will benefit young people and our businesses, who are desperate for skills that an apprenticeship can provide.
“Degree apprenticeships can also unlock many doors, combining high-quality training with a job and providing the higher-level skills employers demand. Many world-class careers have been built on a solid apprenticeship with, in some cases, salaries overtaking graduate earnings. I would urge parents to be open-minded when advising about next steps, and explore all the options to find the right route for their child.”
