Local leaders have met with the education secretary Lucy Powell to give their views on how to improve the education system and better prepare young people for work, as part of efforts put local expertise at the heart of education policies.

Regional mayors, business leaders, headteachers and college principals met at No10 North in Manchester on 10 September to shape plans to ensure technical and academic education are on an equal footing.

Discussions focused on the delivery of vocational education reforms from aged 14, work experience opportunities, and making the most of the devolution of billions of pounds of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds.

The meeting will be the first of regular gatherings that will bring together industry, politicians and educators to drive forward reforms. It comes ahead of the publication of the Devolution White Paper which will set out plans to give local leaders a greater role in shaping economic growth and opportunity in their areas.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: "I want a new way of working in education. I want change to come not from Whitehall alone, but to be co-designed with those who will deliver it, those who know local strengths and challenges best."

The reforms build on the government introducing V Levels from aged 16 and expanding T Levels from next September to help to tackle the nearly 1 million young people who are not in education, employment or training.