A purple background with the white text reading "Educator Toolkit" and "part of the MBacc".

Greater Manchester Baccalaureate Gateways


The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) will transform technical education and help all our young people to fulfil their potential. It will provide an equally prestigious alternative to the university route, so everyone has a realistic route into jobs with our most prestigious employers.

The MBacc draws on local labour market data to steer young people to sectors that are growing in our city-region. They can choose from seven MBacc gateways — each of which sets out the subjects and qualifications most valued by Greater Manchester’s top employers.

The gateways are: 

  • Construction and the Green Economy 

  • Creative, Culture and Sport 

  • Digital and Technology 

  • Education and Early Years 

  • Engineering and Manufacturing 

  • Financial and Professional 

  • Health and Social Care 

At the first stage of the MBacc (typically at age 14), young people choose an MBacc gateway and start to build the qualifications and skills they need.  

Core qualifications and skills are part of every gateway:

  • English Language and Literature  

  • Maths 

  • Sciences 

  • Digital skills

Stacking relevant gateway skills and qualifications on top gives young people a good foundation to succeed in their chosen gateway. These options typically include, Business Studies, Design & Technology, Engineering, Food Preparation & Nutrition, Performing Arts, Art & Design. 

For young people on the MBacc route, at age 16, there will be more T Level courses and industry placements than ever before, as well as access to apprenticeships and other technical qualifications. 

Then at aged 18, MBacc students will have access to prestigious work-related courses, from intermediate and degree apprenticeships to higher technical qualifications. 

Making choices at 14 should not be limiting, so optionality is built into the MBacc at each stage. A variety of qualifications to suit different learner styles and the flexible design means young people can move between gateways or choose to follow the more academic route. 

Beeline, our interactive careers tool, helps young people to visual the journey by highlighting the relevant subjects to build the knowledge needed for careers in the gateway, the choice of qualifications at each stage, and potential jobs and employers in Greater Manchester. 

View each of the gateways on Beeline: