Two years after its introduction in Greater Manchester, the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) is aiming to reshape technical and vocational education by creating clearer pathways from school to employment aligned with industry needs. Initially launched under the leadership of Andy Burnham during his tenure as Greater Manchester mayor, the MBacc was designed to address what Burnham described as England’s “academic bias,” where academic routes such as A-levels and university admission have traditionally received more focus than technical and vocational education.

Unlike traditional qualifications, the MBacc functions as a framework for students aged 14 to 19, offering seven career “gateways” that include sectors such as digital technology, engineering, health, construction, and finance. From Year 9, pupils select a gateway and follow a mixed curriculum that combines GCSE subjects with technical qualifications, work experience, and sector-specific careers guidance. This approach was developed in collaboration with employers, schools, colleges, and universities to ensure alignment with local labor market demand.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has set ambitious targets for the MBacc’s expansion. By 2030, the initiative aims for every school, college, and training provider in the region to offer the MBacc, supported by a broader range of T-levels and apprenticeships, increased work experience opportunities, and guaranteed industry placements lasting 45 days for eligible students. The goal by 2035 is to establish clear, accessible routes for all young people in Greater Manchester from education into sustainable employment.

Amanda Marsh, assistant director at North Chadderton School in Oldham, noted that the MBacc provides equal recognition for students regardless of their post-school ambitions, whether that be university, apprenticeships, or immediate employment. She argued that the MBacc addresses existing gaps by allowing pupils to choose GCSEs aligned with their career goals without limiting future options. While her school continues to offer the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), Marsh described it as “quite antiquated” and suggested universities increasingly focus on overall GCSE performance rather than specific subject combinations, making the MBacc framework more relevant to their students.

The initial pilot phase from 2024-25 involved ten schools, working alongside employer networks in each gateway sector, the launch of the Beeline careers platform, an applied computing certificate developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and a new work experience framework. This year, emphasis has shifted toward scaling up placement opportunities, including roughly 1,000 confirmed T-level placements with employers such as IBM, the NHS, the Bee Network, and Autotrader.

Despite these developments, uptake among schools and colleges has been slower than anticipated, according to Loic Menzies, an education policy and research specialist. Nonetheless, the MBacc represents an effort to integrate technical education more fully into the mainstream education landscape by providing students with direct, practical connections to local industry needs and career opportunities.