WMG Academy Trust welcomes plans to offer technical subjects in schools

Thursday 30 July 2026

WMG Academy Trust welcomes plans to offer technical subjects in schools

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s proposed education reforms for secondary school pupils to study subjects such as manufacturing and AI alongside core academic learning, Stewart Tait, CEO of the WMG Academy Trust for Coventry and Solihull, said:

“We are thrilled that the Government is adopting a model of delivering high-quality technical education starting at 14. For over a decade, our WMG Academies for Young Engineers have delivered exceptional outcomes for young people by providing access to specialist, industry-standard facilities, real employer projects, and career pathways.

“Sponsored by the University of Warwick, our academies partner with local employers to deliver the technical and employment skills that the labour market needs. We build career pathways that balance technical and academic education so that our students can thrive in work, education, and training.

“Through our University Technical College model, both of our academies consistently achieve zero or close to zero ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET) figures for students leaving the academies, compared with a concerning national average of 14%, equating to one million 16–24 year olds who are NEET.

“In supporting both academic and technical education, our academies help support students to follow the apprenticeship route up to five times the national average, three-quarters of which are at higher or degree level.

“Helping young people thrive in work and life, means providing a range of different opportunities so that they can make informed decisions about their needs, wants, and strengths. By creating more technical-based options for young people, the Government is opening more doors for our students, delivering on skills shortages, and helping the country develop in critical areas like advanced manufacturing and AI.”

WMG Academies are specialist secondary schools (University Technical Colleges) for young people aged 14–19, focused on engineering, digital and technical education. They are part of the WMG Academy Trust, sponsored by the University of Warwick, and work closely with local and national employers to deliver industry aligned learning.

Find out more: WMG Academy Trust - Schools for 14-19 year olds In Coventry and Solihull