Warning over ‘weak’ post-16 education and training policy

20 Aug 14
The policy to raise the compulsory participation age in education and training to 18 next year lacks the legal underpinning it needs to be a success, the Work Foundation has warned.

By Rosie Niven | 21 August 2014

The policy to raise the compulsory participation age in education and training to 18 next year lacks the legal underpinning it needs to be a success, the Work Foundation has warned.

The think-tank also criticised the government’s removal of many financial incentives, such as the Educational Maintenance Allowance, which had kept post-16 participation levels low. Post-16 education and training had become ‘largely voluntary’, it noted in a report published yesterday.

Only 78% of 15- to 19-year-olds in the UK stay on in education and training, the report found, one of the lowest participation rates among developed nations. Spain, France and Italy achieve 86%, 84% and 81% participation rates respectively.

Despite increasing political support for post-16 participation, policies were at risk of failing without significant improvement to current educational options and career advice. 

Report author Beth Foley said: ‘Without legal enforcement, much of the success of the increase in participation age to 18 depends upon the “carrots” on offer.

‘The government must provide the necessary support to ensure careers advice and financial assistance reaches the most disaffected and disadvantaged young people. Any less would represent a missed opportunity at a time when youth unemployment remains a serious problem.’

A 21% per head funding gap already exists for 16- to 18-year-olds compared with 14- to 16-year-olds. Foley suggested that current policy would see further pressure placed on spending for 16-18 year olds, which fell from £7.7bn to £7bn between 2010 and 2012.

The report suggested introducing Youth Transition Partnerships to join up services currently available to support young people’s transition from school to work. The scope of the bursary scheme that replaced the EMA should also be widened to cover expenses beyond transport assistance.


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