Raising participation age won’t work without better guidance in schools

From 2015, young people will be required to participate in approved education or training until the age of 18

A new report published by the Work Foundation has warned that the Government’s policy of raising the participation age in education or training will not work without improvements in careers advice and guidance. From 2015, young people will be required to participate in approved education or training until the age of 18.

The report says that while responsibility for providing careers advice and guidance has been transferred to schools, evidence shows that many schools are not equipped to help young people to navigate their post 16 options. It also raises concerns that schools, especially those with an attached sixth form, are not seen as a sufficiently independent source of advice on vocational options.

Fiona Mellett, Managing Director of Greater Manchester’s largest Apprenticeship training provider Skills Solutions said: “It’s crucial that we improve the quality of careers advice and guidance for young people. This report is just the latest in a long line that has questioned the effectiveness of the current arrangements in schools. Young people who want to follow an academic route will have few problems in getting guidance, but if you want to choose a vocational option, it’s much more difficult to get the help you need.”

“We do a lot of work in schools, and it’s become clear to us that there’s a great deal of confusion around the issue of raising the participation age among young people, parents and teachers. Many people think it’s about raising the school leaving age, but it’s really about giving everyone the opportunity to continue to learn in the way that’s most appropriate for them. For more and more people now, the right choice is an Apprenticeship, where young people can continue to learn, gain valuable qualifications, and earn at the same time.”

“It’s really vital that our young people get good quality, impartial careers advice at school that gives them all the information they need about the full range of options available to them post 16 both vocational and academic. It’s also important that parents understand the changes so that they can make sure that their children make the right choices, and don’t believe that staying on at school is the only option.”