Raising the Participation Age

1
Raising the Participation Age

• From 2015, ALL 16-18 year olds must continue to
  participate in education or training by staying
  in full-time education, undertaking an
  Apprenticeship or taking a job but continuing to
  learn alongside the job.

2
Why has this change been made?
The rationale

• Benefits to the young person, their family,
  employers, the UK economy and society as a whole
• The UK is below the OECD average on post-16
  participation
• Young people who gain 5 or more good GCSEs earn
  on average at least 25 more than those without
  qualifications and are less likely to have
  periods of unemployment
• They are also less likely to commit crimes,
  behave anti-socially, or to suffer ill-health

3
The requirement

• New duty applies to anyone who is
• Under 18 and
• Resident in England and
• Without a level 3 qualification
• Duty is to participate in
• Full time education accredited or unaccredited
• Apprenticeship
• Part time accredited learning (at least 280
  guided learning hours per year around a day per
  week) if in employment or volunteering full time
  (at least 20 hours per week)
• Introduced in phases to 17 in 2013 18 in 2015

4
So what will your child be able to do during
these two extra years of compulsory education or
training in order to meet the requirements?

• General learning
• and/or
• Applied Learning
• and/or
• Work-based / work-related learning

5
What is General Learning?

• General learning is already familiar to you.
  Your child undertakes general learning throughout
  primary and secondary education and has the
  opportunity to study for general qualifications
  such as GCSEs, A/S and A levels.

6
What is Applied Learning?
Applied learning involves an approach to learning
which focuses on motivating and challenging
students to connect what they learn with the
world they experience and with what interests
them. The basic premise is that if subject
content is made more relevant, participatory and
concrete then students learn better, retain more
and apply learning in their lives. Teaching in
this model uses hands-on innovative teaching
methods that will contextualise the learning for
students. Teachers help students understand the
reasons for studying their subject matter and
capitalize on students' natural learning
inclinations and problem-solving approaches that
they can use well beyond the classroom throughout
their lives. Applied Learning qualifications
include Applied GCSEs and Diplomas
7
What is work based /work related learning?

• Work based/ work related learning is concerned
  with learning the specific knowledge,
  understanding and skills associated with a
  particular type of occupation, craft or
  profession that will equip the learner to
  undertake employment associated with the field of
  study. In addition, these courses will equip
  learners with generic skills that are necessary
  to complement the specific knowledge. Work
  based/ work related learning approaches, under
  the guidance of qualified professionals in the
  specific field, will include practical, hands-on
  learning as well as complementary, theoretical
  learning
• Work based / work related learning qualifications
  include Apprenticeships

8
Applied Learning in Schools

• Applied Learning has become increasingly common
  in schools with the introduction of GCSEs in
  applied subjects and the focus on work-related
  learning and enterprise in KS4. The development
  of the Diplomas means that more students can
  access a wider range of applied learning courses
  and benefit from practically-based,
  contextualised learning approaches which will
  capitalise on their interests, aptitudes and
  abilities.

9
Work based/ work related Learning in Schools
While work based / work related qualifications
have been on offer in further education
colleges for many years they are now also a
rapidly growing feature of the school
curriculum, Particularly among those students
aged 14 - 16. A more varied choice of
qualifications will allow young people to choose
a pathway which best suits their learning style,
talents and interests.
10
Work based/work related learning Post 16

• For the first time in 35 years the age beyond
  which young people must continue to participate
  in either education or training has been raised
  to 17 from 2013 and 18 from 2015. This means
  that all young people, on reaching the age of 18,
  will have the higher level qualifications that
  employers value so highly and seek to identify in
  their future workforce.
• Work based / work related learning beyond the age
  of 16 can continue to take place in a school or
  college. It can also take place as recognised,
  accredited training alongside a job or
  volunteering role.
• The types of qualifications that young people in
  this phase of education or training can achieve
  will vary according to their place of education
  or training and will include
• Apprenticeship
• A-levels
• Diplomas
• Foundation Learning
• However, there are a wide range of learning
  opportunities that are relevant in different
  working environments that young people may
  access.

11
Employability

• Post-16 learning is important for reasons of
  employability. Research has shown that
• Due to the changes in the labour market the
  number of jobs available in semi-skilled or
  unskilled work is declining
• Employers are increasingly looking for people
  with higher level qualifications to fill more
  service based vacancies as manufacturing and
  agricultural industries decline
• 1960 33 of the labour market was unskilled
• 2006 12 of the labour market was unskilled
• 2010 2 of the labour market are predicted to be
  unskilled
• (STEM Choices ,2009, DCSF)
• Apprenticeship starts reached a record high
  225,000 in 2007/08 (up 22 per cent on the year
  before).
• Over 2 million Apprenticeship starts since
  1996/97.
• Completion rates reached an all time high in
  2007/08 of 64 per cent compared to 48 per cent in
  2005/06.
• Apprenticeships funding planned to increase to
  over 1 billion by 2009-10.
• 6.4 billion total Apprenticeships spend since
  2001/02.
• From 2013, entitlement to an Apprenticeship
  place for all suitably qualified young people to
  be introduced.
• By 2020, over 250,000 Apprenticeship starts and
  190,000 successful completions to help deliver
  the Leitch ambition for the UK to be World
  Class in skills, jobs and productivity

12
Is a vocational or applied course right for your
child?
Research found that one in five young people
think they have been led down the wrong
educational path, with almost half of these being
misdirected by their own parents. Many parents
are influenced by ingrained prejudices against
vocational qualifications 35 believe that
vocational learning is just for people who dont
do well at school. (www.edge.co.uk/project/anoth
er-way-forward)
13
What are the Benefits of Apprenticeships or
Applied Learning ?

• Linking understanding and learning activities to
  job roles
• The opportunity to meet and work with
  professionals
• Real life investigations and active enquiry
• Learning through doing
• Gaining confidence through experiencing earning
  different environments

14
Progression to Higher Education

• Work related qualifications are increasingly
  being recognised as
• university entry qualifications
• Apprenticeships and Advanced Diplomas will offer
  learners the
• opportunity to progress into higher education and
  to choose to
• pursue academic or vocational qualifications
• Major companies have set up successful schemes
  that enable
• people to move into HE as part of a vocational
  routes. Eg
• BMW- apprenticeship leading to foundation degree
• The Eden Project sustainable tourist operations
  to NVQ 4

15
Further Information

• www.edge.co.uk/success-stories
• Real life case studies indentified by the Edge
  Foundation showing how young people
• have forged successful careers after studying
  vocational courses.
• www.direct.gov.uk