New analysis of school funding by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies shows the budget per pupil is growing faster than expected, by 9% in real terms between 2025-26 and 2028-29.
This is partly because of various government top-ups to the budget and falling pupil numbers in some areas.
Economist Luke Sibieta said asking schools to offer more vocational routes would be a “big change” on top of the significant reforms to support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
He said there was a “big question mark” over whether there were enough people to teach technical and vocational subjects, with further education colleges already struggling to recruit.
The Association of Colleges (AoC) suggested schools worked with them because they could offer “industry standard facilities” and qualified staff.
David Hughes, from the AoC, said this would help ensure learning was “authentically different to school and properly employment focused”.
Daniel Kebede, from the National Education Union, said “sustained investment and resources” was needed to make a success of the new qualifications.
While Pepe Di’Iasio, of the Association of School and College Leaders, described the government’s plans as “well intentioned” but without making sure schools had the staffing and resources would not remove barriers to young people.
He welcomed the national push for work experience and said with placements “extremely difficult” to secure more support was needed from employers.
The existing statutory career guidelines for secondary schools in England already require “meaningful” work experience for 14 to 16-year-olds.
Employers are now being asked to contact their local careers hub to offer placements.
Laura Trott MP, who is the Conservative Party’s shadow education secretary said she was concerned the changes risked losing the progress England had made in improving standards, and “ripping up the system” could mean “sabotaging young people’s futures”.
“Better schools will continue to protect rigorous subjects but disadvantaged children will be steered towards easier routes, lowering expectations for the very pupils who need high standards most,” she said.
The Liberal Democrats also warned the new vocational GCSEs should not become a “pipeline” directing disadvantaged pupils away from more academic subjects.