A Child Benefit Bill was published. Under it, child benefit would be paid to the families of young people aged 16-19 in unwaged work-based learning and those aged 19 completing a course of education or training.
Source: Child Benefit Bill, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | HMT press release | HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A report said that underachieving school pupils in their early teens benefited from learning at college. Research with children aged 14 16 who were spending part of their education in further education colleges found that they liked the more 'adult' working relationships with teachers, as well as the opportunity to take practical subjects and the second chance that colleges offered.
Source: Joe Harkin and Ros Clow, Meeting the Needs of Younger Learners in Further Education, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (Word file) | LSDA press release (Word file)
Date: 2004-Dec
The interim report of a review of school/college links in Scotland was published. It outlined how the Scottish Executive would meet its commitment to allow young people aged 14-16 to gain vocational skills - for example, by ensuring all secondary and special schools had effective working partnerships with at least one further education college.
Source: Building the Foundations of a Lifelong Learning Society, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Nov
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority began consultation on a proposed new framework for achievement for young people and adults. The aim was to simplify the system so that it was more responsive to employer and learner needs. The proposed framework offered a clear structure for recognizing learning and qualifications; smaller packages of learning units that could be accumulated and transferred easily between qualifications and awarding bodies; the potential for employers to gain recognition for in-house training programmes; a distinctive suite of qualifications which denoted competence in specific occupations; levels and credits which defined the standard and the volume of learning; and standard definitions of terms such as award , certificate and diploma .
Source: A Framework for Achievement: Recognising qualifications and skills in the 21st century, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (020 7509 5555)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | QCA press release
Date: 2004-Nov
A survey looked at the education and labour market experiences, training and qualifications of young people in England and Wales. 43 per cent of young people aged 18 were in full-time education, and 3 in 10 had a full-time job.
Source: Youth Cohort Study: Activities and Experiences of 18 Year Olds - England and Wales 2004, Statistical First Release 43/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
A paper presented an overview of the existing state of knowledge regarding poor motivation of school pupils aged 14-16.
Source: Hilary Steedman and Sheila Stoney, Disengagement 14-16: Context and evidence, DP654, Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics (020 7955 7673)
Links: Paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2004-Oct
A study sought to map the 14 19 learning landscape, and identify the implications for local authorities. It said that the development of the 14 19 learning and skills reform agenda had been influenced by a drive to increase competitiveness through improving the level of skills in the economy, and by a commitment to enhance social inclusion through preventing young people from disengaging from education.
Source: David Sims and Susan McMeeking, Mapping the 14 19 Learning Landscape, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Aug
A report evaluated the Increased Flexibility for 14-16 Year Olds Programme (IFP). In the nine partnerships visited, most students were said to be on target to complete their qualifications at or above the level predicted for them. Involvement in IFP was said to have contributed to positive developments in students maturity, self-esteem, self-confidence, independence, attendance, preparedness for the future, and career aspirations. (The IFP was introduced in 2002 in order to enhance vocational and work-related learning opportunities for 14-16 year olds who could benefit most.)
Source: Sarah Golden, Julie Nelson, Lisa O Donnell and Peter Rudd, Implementing the Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16 Year Olds Programme: The experience of partnerships and students, Research Report 562, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
Researchers evaluated the Increased Flexibilities Programme (introduced in 2002 to create enhanced vocational and work-related learning opportunities for 14-16 year olds who can benefit most ). Around 45 per cent of all state secondary and special schools in England were found to be engaged in partnerships for the second cohort of IFP; and around 9 per cent of the year 10 cohort in these schools were participating in 2003-2004.
Source: Sarah Golden, Julie Nelson, Lisa O Donnell and Peter Rudd, Evaluation of Increased Flexibilities for 14-16 Year Olds: Profile of partnerships and students 2002 and 2003, Research Report 558, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
The proportion of young people in England aged 16-18 in education and training was 75.5 per cent at the end of 2003, compared to 74.7 per cent at the end of 2002. The underlying increase was estimated to be nearer to 0.4 percentage points.
Source: Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 Year Olds in England: 2002 and 2003, Statistical First Release 18/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A study sought to identify the nature and influence of school-based factors in the choices of young people about their post-16 education, training and career pathways. The provision of a sixth form within the school was an important influence; and in particular the careers advice in schools with sixth forms was qualitatively different from that in schools for children aged 11-16.
Source: Nick Foskett, Martin Dyke and Felix Maringe, The Influence of the School in the Decision to Participate in Learning Post-16, Research Report 538, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
The government announced a fundamental reform of the apprenticeships system. There would be new young apprenticeships for those aged 14-16 - a 'high quality opportunity for motivated pupils' who could spend up to two days a week in the workplace learning a trade; a pre-apprenticeship offer, based around the entry to employment programme for young people who were not yet ready or able to enter an apprenticeship, or who were disengaged and disenfranchised from learning; apprenticeships at level 2 (replacing the foundation modern apprenticeship); advanced apprenticeships (equal to 2 good A-levels or level 3 qualification and replacing the advanced modern apprenticeship); and the opening up of apprenticeships to adults by scrapping the age limit of 25.
Source: Press release 10 May 2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | TUC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-May
Local authorities called for radical changes to transform the local learning environment and build the skills of all young people aged 14 19 whether they were embarking on a career locally or were destined for university. It said that local learning and skills provision too often failed to meet the needs of both young people and local employers.
Source: Local Government Transforming Learning, Building Skills: In education, in communities, at work, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | LGA press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A study showed that young people s well-being dropped drastically while at secondary school, with significant effects on their personal development.
Source: Nic Marks, The Power and Potential of Well-being Indicators: Measuring young people's well-being in Nottingham, New Economics Foundation, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | NEF press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2004-Apr
An audit report said the Connexions service was on target to meet its major objective of reducing the proportion of young people aged 16-18 not in education, employment or training by 10 per cent by November 2004. Achieving the 10 per cent target might result in short-term economic benefits of 180 million, and longer-term benefits of over 1.4 billion.
Source: Department of Education and Skills - Connexions Service for all Young People, National Audit Office (020 7798 7000) HC 484 (Session 2003-04)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NAO press release
Date: 2004-Mar
A paper said that vocational qualifications at all levels could improve the employment chances of unqualified school leavers. There were also small effects on occupational mobility, but little impact on wages. However, few unqualified school leavers seemed to be following this vocational route to qualification achievement.
Source: Steven McIntosh, The Impact of Vocational Qualifications on the Labour Market Outcomes of Low-Achieving School-Leavers, DP621, Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics (020 7955 7673)
Links: Paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2004-Mar
A government report set out a long-term vision for a radically simplified financial support system for young people aged 16-19. It said that the government would remove the distinction between education and unwaged training in child benefit, child tax credit and income support; examine further ways to encourage employers to support time off for training for young people; and extend financial support for young people aged 19 to finish their courses.
Source: Supporting Young People to Achieve: Towards a new deal for skills, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558), Department for Education and Skills, and Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report (pdf) | HMT press release
Date: 2004-Mar
Statistics were published on the participation by young people in England aged 16 and 17 in education and training, as at the end of 2001.
Source: Participation in Education and Training by 16 and 17 Year Olds in Each Local Area in England: 2001, Statistical report bweb01/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
Updated statistics were published on the level of highest qualification held by people of working age in England. Attainment figures were broken down by sex, age, geography, ethnicity, disability and economic activity. 76.1 per cent of young people aged 19 had a qualification at level 2 or higher, an improvement of 1.3 percentage points since 2002. 71.2 per cent of economically active adults were qualified to at least level 2, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from Autumn 2002: this represented an increase of 209,000 adults towards a target of 1 million more adults with a level 2 or better in 2006.
Source: The Level of Highest Qualification Held by Young People and Adults: England 2003, Statistical First Release 03/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
A report evaluated the first year of the 'Increased Flexibilities for 14-16 year olds Programme'. The programme was introduced in 2002, aimed at creating enhanced vocational and work-related learning opportunities for children aged 14-16 of all abilities.
Source: Sarah Golden, Julie Nelson, Lisa O Donnell and Marian Morris, Evaluation of Increased Flexibilities for 14-16 Year Olds: The First Year, Research Report 511, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
A report contained updated data on the concerns of young people aged 12-15 over issues such as health, school and career problems.
Source: Trends: Young People and Emotional Health and Well Being Incorporating Bullying 1983-2003, Schools Health Education Unit (01392 667272)
Links: SHEU press release (1) | SHEU press release (2)
Date: 2004-Feb
An evaluation was published of the first year of the phase one 14-19 pathfinders, designed to test a variety of collaborative approaches between different agencies such as learning and skills councils, local education authorities, employers, colleges, schools, training providers, higher education institutions and the 'Connexions' (careers) service.
Source: Jeremy Higham, Gill Haynes, Caroline Wragg and David Yeomans, 14-19 Pathfinders: Evaluation of the first year, Research Report 504, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
