Mayor joins students celebrating exam results as Greater Manchester marks one year of the MBacc

• Andy Burnham congratulates students getting results at The Manchester College’s Openshaw campus
• In its first year the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) has already made huge strides in transforming technical education
• The MBacc is built on the principle that academic and technical education should be equally valued and provide equally prestigious opportunities
• Progress so far includes steps towards a 45 day work placement for every young person who needs one, including more than 700 new T Level placements pledged by employers including NHS, Murphy, Nexperia and Autotrader
• More than 4,500 young people have used Beeline digital tool, giving them a clear line of sight into real jobs in our growing economy
• The MBacc builds on the excellent work already being led by colleges across Greater Manchester, delivering high-quality technical education and industry placements
• Young people and business leaders have backed plan to create UK’s first university-style accommodation for apprentices

TODAY as our students celebrate exam success, Greater Manchester is also marking a year of record gains in improving access to technical education.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham today joined students at The Manchester College’s Openshaw campus as they found out how they’d done in their T Level and other vocational and technical qualifications, some of the key education pathways that make up the MBacc.

Among the students collecting their results at The Manchester College in Openshaw today was 19-year-old Henry Mafe from Whalley Range, who is aiming to secure an apprenticeship in medical research after receiving a distinction in his T Level in Laboratory Science:

“I’m really happy with my result; it’s better than I expected! I always knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship, and a T Level seemed like the best pathway for that. I got the work experience, and also studied the core science modules. I did my placement in the lab at Cancer Research UK, which was brilliant.

“I would definitely recommend T Levels. Having that work experience really puts you in a good position if you want to go into an apprenticeship, but it’s also really good if you’re applying for university.”

Typically studied over two years, by 16-19-year-olds, T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels and students spend 80 per cent of their time in the classroom and 20 on an industry placement, which lasts a minimum of 45 days.

Building on the excellent work already being led by colleges across Greater Manchester, over the past year, employers have backed the MBacc by pledging an additional 700 new work placements for T Level students, supporting the goal that every young person who wants one will be able to do a work placement.

The prestigious employers on board include Murphy, Nexperia and Autotrader. Royal Oldham Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, has pledged the city region’s first midwifery placements, allowing students from Oldham College to gain real-world experience within the NHS. Students are also gaining valuable work experience by doing T level placements in transport, engineering and project support across the Bee Network.

Plans to create UK’s first university-style independent living for apprentices have also moved forward, with young people and some of Greater Manchester’s leading employers backing the proposals.

New research from Co-operatives UK, funded by The Co-operative Bank, has found that 75% of young people surveyed in Greater Manchester believe apprentices should have the option to live in halls of residence, and at a round table event last week, 20 business leaders supported the idea.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

"Results day is a huge moment in any young person’s life, and I want to congratulate everyone across Greater Manchester who is opening their results today. Whether you’ve taken A levels, T Levels, or other level 3 vocational qualifications, there are real opportunities here for you to get a great job in our growing economy.

“We’ve made real progress in the first year of MBacc, thanks to the dedication of schools, colleges, independent training providers, employers, and The Growth Company, who have done brilliant work in driving up T Level placements across the city region.

“Meeting students from The Manchester College today was truly inspiring. Their ambition, talent, and determination show exactly why technical education matters — and why Greater Manchester is proud to back it.”

Greater Manchester is setting the standard for a locally-led model of technical education – one designed with and for young people, educators and employers. Other steps forward for the MBacc in its first year of delivery include:

• Our city region is piloting equalex, a new inclusive work experience programme led by the Careers and Enterprise Company, which has so far involved 330 students across 11 schools.
• 26 schools across Greater Manchester have run MBacc pilot projects, using our Educator Toolkit to help more students to understand the range of technical pathways available in our city region.
• More than 4,500 young people have used our new digital tool, Beeline, to explore real jobs and salaries in Greater Manchester across seven growth sectors: Digital and Technology; Health and Social Care; Creative, Culture and Sport; Financial, Business and Professional; Engineering and Manufacturing; Construction and Green Economy; Education and Early Years.

All these initiatives are building towards Greater Manchester’s 2030 ambition: to ensure every young person has a clear, supported path into meaningful work, without having to leave the place they call home.

By transforming the way young people access and experience technical education, the MBacc will help all our young people to fulfil their potential and close the skills gaps that are holding back our economy. 

Notes to editors

• Greater Manchester is already leading the way on T Levels nationally, with last year’s pass rate of 94% well above the national average of 88.7%,
• 68% of Greater Manchester learners got merit or distinction, compared to 62.7% nationally
• 10% of all T Level students in England study here in Greater Manchester
• The Our House project will look to introduce a pilot university-style halls of residence for apprentices in Greater Manchester
• A new report by Co-operatives UK, surveyed over 2,000 young people across the UK and conducted a survey and focus groups in Greater Manchester about the Our House project. You can read more Our House - Halls for Apprentices | Co-operatives UK

Article Published: 14/08/2025 16:19 PM