The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate

Transforming technical education in our city-region

Our game-changing Greater Manchester Baccalureate, the MBacc, is set to transform technical education in our city-region, growing the economy and helping all our young people fulfil their potential.

Co-designed by education and business leaders, the MBacc will open up a clear pathway from school to high-quality jobs in our growing economy.

At present, only 40% of students in Greater Manchester study for an English Baccalaureate, a set of GCSE qualifications that are most valued by universities. And a quarter achieve a standard pass in all subjects.

Our MBacc has been designed as an equally-prestigious alternative for technical education, signposting young people to the subjects Greater Manchester employers value most.

At 14, young people will be able to choose from seven MBacc gateways, designed with the help of some of our most prestigious employers and using local labour market data.

Qualifications are aligned to the sectors that are growing in Greater Manchester:

Digital and Technology
Health and Social Care
Creative, Culture and Sport
Financial and Professional
Engineering and Manufacturing
Construction and Green Economy
Education and Early Years.

Young people will be prepared for the jobs of the future and digital skills will be hard-wired into the MBacc. Each gateway will be brought to life by real world experience of the workplace, including clear routes into our Bee Network and emergency services.

The MBacc pathways continue post year 11. At age 16, young people will have access to more T level courses than ever before, as well as other technical qualifications. A new central application system will open up work placements with our most prestigious employers, giving young people equal access to game-changing opportunities.

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

Our MBacc will help more young people to fulfil their potential. By building it together we can give everyone growing up in Greater Manchester a clear line of sight to opportunities, helping us achieve our shared goal of good lives for all.

Read our latest press release