The LGA has confirmed some worrying (but unsurprising) figures on the number of young people not completing their post 16 study or training options.
According to their research 178,000 16-18 year olds are not completing their post 16 choices (A’ Levels, Apprenticeship or FE Course), costing £814m a year.
These figures do not come as a surprise to YEUK, we understand that many young people are
choosing pathways that they do not complete. As the report says the reasons why young people drop-out are complex, lack of quality information in terms of careers advice, understanding of the pathways chosen and personal support all play a significant factor.
The issue that worries YEUK is where these young people turn to when they fall out of the “system” who is tracking and supporting them to find new and more secure pathways? A lack of funding and accountability in our Local Authorities and schools for tracking young people means that services are significantly undermanned in many areas, and there is not the capacity or ownership to track and support young people who drop-out. Ofsted believe that tracking is an issue for post 16 learners. A new report by the Public Accounts Committee has also criticised tracking.
Putting the right funding behind the Local Authority and the accountability to support all young people post 16 would be a significant step to addressing the issues of tracking and support. Creating “Career Hubs” in areas with the intention to include all of the major stakeholders is a little more tricky, whilst funding drives a “bums on seats” approach collaboration is difficult for schools, a complaint we have often heard, so would a Careers Hub resolve that?
What young people want should also be considered, in many cases young people have told YEUK that they want better careers information and support from their schools, in advance of making post 16 choices. In our recent survey and report young people said they felt schools should be doing more to prepare and support them with these important choices YEUK Careers Education Report 2015
Do we need to invest in and create hubs, or is the answer closer to home? We agree with the LGA that something must be done to prevent so many young people from dropping out of the system. What is also needed is a joined up approach to ensure that if and when young people drop out from a qualification, course or training pathway that there is some form of support to help them.
Click on the link here to read the BBC Report
The Commons Select Committee are looking into this issue sharing some of our concerns
