National curriculum reforms aim to strengthen STEM and technical skills
05.11.2025
The Government has announced updates to the national curriculum to ensure young people leave school with the skills needed to thrive in the modern world of work. The reforms include a stronger focus on core subjects, triple sciences, and the expansion of computer science, data, and AI education for 16- to 18-year-olds — all areas critical to the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sectors.
New frameworks for oracy, enrichment, and citizenship, alongside broader subject choice at secondary level, aim to raise standards and give young people practical, transferable skills. By strengthening STEM learning and technical education, these reforms have the potential to help address the skills gaps facing UK manufacturers and better prepare the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators.
Make UK has welcomed the announcements, highlighting the opportunity to build on successful models such as University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and the importance of embedding digital and technical learning across the whole education system.
Manufacturers will welcome the Government’s focus on strengthening core subjects and modernising the curriculum to include vital areas like computer science, data and AI. These are essential skills for the sector's future, while it’s also encouraging to see a stronger emphasis on STEM subjects, particularly through the ‘separate sciences’, which will give a real rocket boost to the UK’s engineering and innovation pipeline.
“We also see a real opportunity to build on successful models such as University Technical Colleges and UTC sleeves, expanding access to high-quality technical education and equipping more young people with not just academic learning, but hands-on, industry-relevant experience to best prepare them for a career in manufacturing.
“To build on these positive announcements, it's vital we embed digital and technical learning throughout the education system. The UK faces one of the world’s largest AI skills gaps, with nearly half of manufacturers struggling to recruit people with the digital skills they need. Extending AI and data education throughout the school system - and reversing the decline in Design and Technology GCSEs - will help inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.
