NYA Update: Staying on means more than just school
Monday, March 21, 2011
Many students at school still do not know they will have to stay on in some form of education or training until the age of 17 in 2013 and 18 from 2015. The coalition has deferred the introduction of the enforcement provisions by one year, while making a commitment to the previous government's policy of raising the participation age.
Working with the Local Government Association, we've just finished the second part of a research project that explored young people's views on these plans. The research was in two parts - an online survey of about 1,000 young people and 900 parents and carers, and then five focus groups with 80 young people.
The findings suggest a number of areas for action. First, there's a real job to do explaining to young people and those who advise and support them that the options for staying on include college, employment, even volunteering, and not just school. Even when the researchers explained these options, young people still equated "staying on" simply as more school.
Second, young people felt that vocational training did not get the recognition it deserved. The Wolf Review into vocational education published earlier this month is welcome if it can lead to a real change in the quality of provision and its status.
The third, and perhaps most telling, issue that arises from the research is how conscious young people are of the importance to them of good teaching. Young people want teachers who communicate well, use a variety of teaching methods, respond to their individual needs and, above all, respect them.
Unfortunately, school still does not work for many young people and the challenge for educators and local authorities will be to inspire those who simply cannot face more school to explore the alternatives. Let's just hope the inspiring alternative provision will be there.
Jon Boagey is director of operations for the National Youth Agency and can be contacted at jonb@nya.org.uk
