GCSE students choose to learn for longer

As students receive their GCSE results tomorrow (Thursday, 27 August), new research shows that young people in the Rochdale want to continue in the education system for longer than they had previously planned, to increase their future job prospects.

A fifth (20%) of students in the North West aged 15 or 16 claim to have changed their minds about leaving school after GCSEs, now choosing to undertake new qualifications or training routes instead of starting the search for paid employment.

Local young people who were already planning to stay on into further education have given more consideration to the options available to them, with almost half (48%) thinking more carefully about the subjects or qualifications they take.

Commenting on the findings, Maggie Cowan, a careers and personal adviser from Connexions – the advice and information service for young people – said: “It is very important that students who have just received their GCSE results seek advice and guidance to help them with their choices. There is now a much broader range of post-16 options available to young people in Rochdale, including the Diploma, A levels and a growing number of Apprenticeships, meaning students should be able to find subjects and qualifications that suit their strengths and interests.”

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, said: “It is good to see so many young people in Rochdale opting to stay in education or training after their GCSEs. We have always known that young people who continue to develop their skills and seek higher levels of qualifications have stronger career prospects than those that don’t.

“It’s for this reason that we have introduced even more options for young people, such as the Diploma, and measures that guarantee there will be a place in learning for anyone aged 16 or 17 – whether that’s at school, college, in training or an Apprenticeship.”

Sir Alan Jones, of Toyota and lead Diploma Employer Champion, said: “For success in today’s competitive job market, young people must acquire the skills and knowledge that employers need. So it is really encouraging to see so many young people staying in learning for longer and thinking more carefully about what subjects and qualifications to take. The 14-19 reforms, especially the Diploma, allow each young person to find the path that’s right for them. The link between what they learn and the world of work helps them to engage with education and training and get the qualifications, experience and value of continuous learning, they will need for a career headstart in the 21st century.”

In September 2008, the Government began to roll out a programme of reforms to the education and training of 14-19 year olds, including new qualifications which will give young people greater choice and flexibility over how and what they learn. These reforms involved strengthening A levels, which are now more stretching and challenging, increasing the number of Apprenticeships particularly in the public sector, and the introduction of the Diploma, a qualification that combines classroom study with practical hands-on experience. All 16 and 17 year olds are guaranteed a suitable offer of a place in learning, whether that’s at school, college, in training or an apprenticeship.

The Diploma offers an alternative to traditional qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels. As well as learning about a specific sector, all diploma students will continue to develop their functional skills in English, maths and ICT and will gain essential transferable skills such as presentation and time management. It's been developed with universities and employers to provide an additional route to higher education and employment.

Last year young people in Rochdale could choose to take the Diploma in two subjects, Information Technology; and Society, Health and Development. From this September students will be able to choose from a further four subjects, Construction and the Built Environment; Creative and Media; Engineering; and Hair and Beauty Studies.