In a move that marks a major shift in the United Kingdom’s education policy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the scrapping of the long-standing target for 50% of young people to go to university. Instead, Labour’s new ambition is broader: two-thirds of young people should complete a degree, pursue further education, or undertake what the government now calls a “gold standard apprenticeship” by the age of 25. The announcement came during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on September 30, 2025, and has already sparked a lively national debate about the future of education, social mobility, and the value placed on different career pathways.
The original 50% university target was established by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999. At that time, Blair’s goal was to see half of young adults in higher education by the next century—a move that, according to BBC News, was both symbolic and influential, shaping the aspirations of a generation. Official statistics show that this target was met in 2019 when half of those under 30 had enrolled in higher education, with the figure for 18-year-olds reaching 36.4% in 2024, down from a peak of 38.2% in 2021.
But times, as Starmer argued, have changed. Addressing the conference, the Prime Minister said, “While you will never hear me denigrate the aspiration to go to university, I don’t think the way we currently measure success in education—that ambition to get 50% of kids to uni—I don’t think that’s right for our times, because if you’re a kid or a parent of a kid who chooses an apprenticeship, what does it say to you? Do we genuinely, as a country, afford them the same respect? Because we should.”
Starmer’s remarks strike at the heart of a cultural debate that has simmered for decades: the perceived hierarchy between academic and vocational routes. “What I want is a Britain where people are treated with the dignity that they deserve for making different choices. Choices our country needs, choices we should value, choices that deserve our respect,” he added, echoing the sentiments of his own father, who felt the sting of “disrespect of vocational skills all his life,” as reported by The Times.
The new target is ambitious. By 2040, the government wants at least 10% of young people pursuing higher technical courses or apprenticeships—double the current level. The plan also includes the creation of 14 new Technical Excellence Colleges, focusing on fields like advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital, according to The Independent. These institutions are intended to bridge the gap between traditional academic study and the practical skills needed in the modern workforce.
Backing up these promises, Labour has pledged nearly £800 million in extra funding for 16- to 19-year-olds in 2026, supporting an additional 20,000 students. The funding, drawn from the existing Spending Review settlement, is part of a wider effort to raise standards across further education and technical colleges, which have long been described as the “Cinderella service” of the education system—overlooked and underfunded, as Starmer himself acknowledged.
“More apprenticeships, more technical colleges—technical excellence colleges—qualifications linked to jobs, rooted in their communities,” Starmer declared. “Young people, backed. The class ceiling? Smashed. The grafters? Finally included in our country’s highest aspirations.”
Industry leaders and education advocates have largely welcomed the shift. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of the manufacturers association MAKE UK, called the move a “target of equal value to university that we have long advocated for.” Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, praised the focus on colleges, saying they had been “the forgotten heroes of the education system” for too long. David Hughes from the Association of Colleges described the change as “truly significant,” but added a word of caution: “I’m sure the prime minister knows he is going to have to invest in colleges to back up his warm words.”
Notably, the Social Market Foundation also welcomed the announcement but highlighted the need for equitable access. “It will take a great deal of work to ensure there are enough high-quality apprenticeship opportunities available to meet this target—and vitally, they must ensure those opportunities are available to those from a range of backgrounds, and not just those from better-off families,” said research director Rebecca Montacute.
The government’s plans extend beyond education policy. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, speaking at the same conference, announced a new scheme to offer guaranteed paid work to young people who have been claiming benefits for more than 18 months, with the threat of losing their universal credit if they refuse. This initiative is part of Labour’s broader effort to reduce the benefits bill by encouraging more young people into work or training.
There are, however, challenges ahead. The demand for university places remains strong, with 37% of 18-year-olds in England entering university through the UCAS application system in 2024, as reported by BBC News. At the same time, tuition fees in England stand at £9,535 in 2025, with the government considering further increases—a point of concern for students and families alike. Moreover, the widening of university participation has led to scrutiny over whether all degrees deliver worthwhile outcomes, and whether the expansion of apprenticeships and technical education can match the prestige and earning potential of traditional university pathways.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at the school leaders’ union NAHT, cautioned that the announcement must be supported by a broader school curriculum and a shift away from high-stakes performance measures. “Broadening the curriculum and valuing all subjects and skills will help to improve the outcomes for all young people,” he said.
Starmer’s decision also marks a personal evolution. Just two years ago, he defended the 50% university target, arguing that the solution to vocational “disrespect” was not to “level down the working-class aspiration to go to university.” Now, he says, the times demand a new approach—one that values all forms of achievement and opens doors for every young person, regardless of background or chosen path.
As the government prepares to unveil further details in an upcoming post-16 skills white paper, all eyes are on how these promises will be turned into action. The stakes are high: for the economy, for social mobility, and for the millions of young people whose futures hang in the balance.
For now, the message is clear: the UK is redefining what it means to succeed after school, and the next generation will have more choices—and hopefully, more respect—than ever before.
