Raising the Participation Age

CHYPS Seminar

Olly Newton, Participation Division, DfE

Later this year, the participation age will increase…

The first phase of RPA – full participation of all young people until the end of the academic year they turn 17 – is coming into force in summer 2013. This rises to their 18th birthday in summer 2015.

The duty will apply to all young people aged 16-17 resident in England without a Level 3 qualification. They can participate in:

o Full time education, such as school, college or home education;

o Work based learning, such as an Apprenticeship or traineeship; or

o Full-time work with part-time education alongside.

…to help more young people gain the skills and qualifications they need for sustainable employment.

Young people will benefit

- Those with 2 or more A Levels earn on average 14% more than those without and are less likely to be NEET.

- Participating at ages 16-18 reduces the risk of poor health, adult unemployment and a criminal record.

The economy will benefit

- Increased skills lead to increased productivity that contributes to economic growth.

- It is estimated that being NEET costs around £104,000 for every young person over their lifetime.

• In addition to their existing duties, Local authorities will need to:

• Promote participation;

• Identify young people who are not participating.

• Learning providers will need to:

• Promote good attendance;

• Notify the local authority if young people leave.

• Employers will need to be aware that their 16-17 year old employees will need to be apprentices or undertake part-time training alongside their work. However, we will not commence additional duties on employers.

All organisations have a key role in making this work

• Building Engagement, Building Futures was published in December 2011.

• The strategy brings together policy across government to increase the participation of 16-24 year olds in education, training and work.

We are taking action nationally…

• We also want to improve the quality and rigour of what young people study, particularly in vocational education.

• In July 2012, we published our plans for 16-19 study programmes and the funding that will support them.

• Increasing the number of Academies, Free Schools and University Technical Colleges to provide greater flexibility.

• Addressing poor behaviour and attendance, which can get in the way of young people achieving and progressing.

• Providing additional funding for disadvantaged pupils through the Pupil Premium.

• Giving schools and colleges responsibility for ensuring their pupils receive high quality impartial careers guidance.

• Publishing the Destination Measure to show the success of schools in helping pupils to progress on to learning and work.

…By raising attainment at age 16

• Spending £7.5 billion to fund education and training places for young people aged 16-18.

• Supporting high quality Apprenticeship opportunities and introducing a new programme of Traineeships for young people from August.

• Offering incentives for small businesses to take on a young apprentice.

• Addressing financial barriers through the £180m 16-19 Bursary Fund.

• Providing additional support to up to 70,000 16-17 year olds who are NEET and have low attainment as part of the Youth Contract.

…By supporting post-16 education and training

• Incentivising only the best vocational qualifications pre-16 by counting these within the performance tables.

• Post-16, introducing new study programmes that will offer all 16-19 year olds:– The opportunity to achieve at least one qualification of

substantial size.– Work experience, where appropriate.– English and maths for those who do not have a GCSE at grade C

or above.

• Study programmes will be in place from September, together with new funding arrangements per learner.

…By increasing the quality of vocational education

Local authorities and their partners have a key role• We published brief permissive statutory guidance on responsibilities

in March.

• Recording young people’s participation through CCIS.

• Leading the September Guarantee process.• Supporting those young people who are Not

in Education, Employment or Training.• Working with Youth Contract providers to

refer suitable young people.• Actively supporting participation through

your wider functions – from transport to economic regeneration.

Participation is above average and rising in 65 areas

But there are 44 areas where participation is falling – 29 of these have participation rates that are below average

And there are 36 areas where participation is below average but rising

Participation rates are very different across the country

Map produced by Data & Statistics Division: National Pupil Database and Dissemination Unit

RPA locally-led delivery projects2012-13

Local Leaders

Local Authorities continuing in phase 4

Local authorities new to phase 4

n/a

• Risk of NEET Indicators – Helping to target support on those young people who are most likely not to participate post-16.

• Work pairings – Offering young people an intensive period of work experience and mentoring.

• Managed Moves Protocol – Supporting young people to move between options without dropping out of learning.

There is lots of effective local practice

12

Contact Details:

Olly Newton

- oliver.newton@education.gsi.gov.uk

- 0114 274 2482

http://www.education.gov.uk/16to19/participation