The government wants pupils to take courses like AI and manufacturing which are linked to local jobs.

Secondary school pupils in England will be able to study subjects like manufacturing and AI in addition to core academic learning under reforms outlined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The government said the courses, which would be available from Year 10, would be linked to local industries and designed to give children a clearer pathway into work. Data published this year showed more than one million young people across the UK were not in education, employment or training, the highest level in more than 12 years. Few details have been published about how the new vocational courses would work in practice and it is not clear how they would operate in areas with low industrial activity. The BBC understands that the government expects the new pathways into work to be up and running in some areas by 2028. Writing in the Times, external, Burnham said: "In the age of AI, practical and technical skills haven't become less valuable - they've become more valuable than ever. Britain will need brilliant engineers, electricians and cybersecurity experts more than ever before. "For the first time, technical education will be at the heart of our curriculum, not bolted onto the sides." Pupils would continue to study core maths, English and science but would also have the option of combining the subjects with technical education.