Wednesday 25 March 2026 10:55 am  |  Updated:  Wednesday 25 March 2026 11:03 am

James Reed: V-levels are Labour’s best idea yet

By: James Reed

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Middle-class prejudice towards vocational paths has held the UK back. I welcome Labour’s V-level push, writes James Reed

It is long past time that we did away with the snobbery around non-academic routes into work.

Our young people are facing a jobs crisis, with 16 per cent of them currently out of work, and university graduates are finding it harder than ever to find employment as AI begins to cut swathes through many traditional entry level positions. So we need to get past old-fashioned, middle-class prejudices about the value of vocational paths.

That’s why I welcome the government’s announcement of V-levels – new post-16 vocational qualifications being introduced from 2027 alongside A-levels. Indeed, I think it could turn out to be the single best thing this government has done to date.

Crucially, each V-level will be equivalent to one A-level and can be combined with A-levels so students can mix academic and vocational study. The first subjects available include education, finance and digital – all areas where we at Reed see employers every day desperate for young people with relevant skills.

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