Labour has announced a comprehensive review of GCSEs that will introduce new vocational subjects such as Creative Media Production, Child Development, Digital Tech, Building and Construction, and Business Management and Finance. Education Secretary Lucy Powell aims to elevate vocational qualifications to equivalent status with traditional academic subjects whilst maintaining English, maths and science as compulsory subjects for all pupils. This initiative has attracted criticism from the Conservative Party, who argue it risks undermining the academic rigour of GCSEs at a time when England has just achieved top-ten status in international education rankings.

The review will be unveiled before the end of this year and will see the new vocational GCSEs replacing existing technical qualifications whilst permitting pupils to mix and match them with traditional GCSEs. The Department for Education expects the qualifications to create a smoother pathway to V-levels and T-levels, with work experience now offered to all GCSE pupils. However, Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott has warned that the changes risk "sabotaging young people's futures," arguing that disadvantaged pupils could be steered towards "easier routes" rather than rigorous academic subjects.