Hard hat or graduation cap? That was the question Andy Burnham posed as he outlined his vision of technical and vocational qualifications for 14-year-olds. Trying to match local employers and future workers pre-GCSEs; trying to channel the flow of young people into non-university education as far upstream as possible. Laudable if doable, and the debate about the timescale and whether the lion’s share of delivering will fall on schools, UTCs or the under-funded FE network will rage on. Become a member for unlimited access to Schools Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.