Priorities for ensuring a good vocational offer and progression

to post 16 courses

Rob Williamson

Skills and Employability Team

Raising of the Participation Age From summer 2013, young people will be required to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17.

From 2015, they will be required to continue until their 18th birthday.

RPA will take effect from the last day of the academic year in summer 2013

Raising of the Participation AgeThis doesn’t necessarily mean staying in school.

Young people will be able to choose how they participate post-16, which could be through:

– full-time education, such as school, college or otherwise;

– an Apprenticeship;

– part-time education or training if they are employed, self employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.

D F E guidance: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/participation/rpa

Key stage 4 Destination Measure

What the measures might look like:

School A had 90 per cent of pupils who progressed to apositive destination within one year of ending Key Stage 4.Of these pupils:

– 50 per cent entered further education in School Sixth Form

– 20 per cent entered further education in Further Education College

– 10 per cent  entered work-based learning or an Apprenticeship

– 10 per cent entered employment

16-18 Destination Measure

What the measures might look like:

College B had 70 per cent of students who progressedto a positive destination within one year of their 16-18learning. Of these pupils:

– 40 per cent entered higher education at University (5 per cent of these students went to Oxford or Cambridge University)

– 20 per cent continued in further education.– 10 per cent entered employment

Destination Measures Measures will:

– be based on participation in all of the first two terms (defined as October to March).

– encourage institutions to support and prepare their learners to progress to a destination which offers sustained engagement.

Phase One July 2012– all education destinations including apprenticeships.

Data to be published as Experimental statusPhase Two. Spring 2013

– more complex employment statistics

Bold Steps for Kent

Priority 4: Shape education and skills provision around the

needs of the Kent economy

“Work with all providers to deliver a 14-24 Strategy that

equips young people with the academic, vocational and life

skills required to succeed in the 21st century economy, with

learning and training options that meet the needs of the

private and public sector.”

How are we currently doing?

13.6% of Kent learners achieve no

improvements in qualifications between

ages of 16 and 19, compared to 12.9%

nationally

What are the current challenges to ensuring a good vocational offer leads to progression

post 16Developing employability skills pre 16 as part of thevocational offer

– Ensuring learners are equipped with the skills to succeed in work based learning post 16

Improving Pre 16 learning in Maths and English– to ensure progression between levels post 16

Developing a vocational offer that supports the localeconomy and learners seeking employment

Supplementing vocational learning with appropriate levelsof work related learning and CEIAG

What are the current challenges to ensuring a good vocational offer leads to progression

post 16

Planning a local collaborative vocational curriculum thatensures that:

– learners are not led into vocational cul de sac post 16– learners have the opportunities to meet their

ambitions post 16– there is access to a local foundation and level 1 offer– funding is targeted and avoids local post 16

duplication – communication channels between providers are in

place so that progression barriers can be tackled locally

REAL DRIVER• YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEEDS• 1m 16-24 yr olds unemployed• 22% of 16-24 yr olds

• Lack of Experience• Lack of Contacts• Lack of Employability Skills

• “Its Who You Meet” Education and Employers Taskforce - Report February 2012

• http://www.educationandemployers.org/research/taskforce-publications/its-who-you-meet/