16-19 Participation in education

Written Evidence Submitted by Careers South West Limited

1. The rapidly increasing competitiveness of the global economy means that this country must discover, develop and deploy the talents of all its young people if it is to remain in the game as a leading economy. Too often in the past many young people have not seen the possibilities open to them at first. This is where impartial and independent career information, advice and guidance can put them in touch with future possibilities.

2. The idea of ‘short term pain, long term gain’ is difficult to understand if your family have significant financial worries. This is exacerbated if there is little history of commitment to extended education within the family or community. Transition support starting in the last years at school and continuing for a number of years after is vital to ensure young people remain engaged and progress.

3. The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) has helped to counter the argument that the young person needs to leave school and find work to bring money into the household. Reducing this anxiety has meant more young people have had a wider range of learning and career pathways open to them and a longer spell in education should enable them to increase their qualifications for the benefit of them as individuals and for society.

4. There is a danger that the move to a Discretionary Learner Support Fund will bring uncertainty back into many young people’s minds. This means the raising of the participation in learning agenda is more likely to be seen as a negative in their eyes.

5. With the move from the EMA to the Discretionary Learner Support Fund good career guidance will become even more important to encourage and support young people’s engagement in learning. Yet there is a very real danger that changes in the way this service is funded will significantly reduce the amount of time available in schools to support career decision making. Removing the statutory requirement for a school to deliver careers education will also weaken those mechanisms that support young people’s transition into adult life.

6. Good career guidance helps individuals recognise their potential and show the possibilities open to them. To support young people’s participation in learning and work the Government should develop systems for the all-age career service that demonstrate that the service:

- raises aspirations

- removes barriers to learning and work

- increases understanding of career pathways and what is required to take them

- develops career management skills in individuals to be successful in learning and work

- supports individuals make good career decisions

7. Career guidance has the potential to bring big benefits to the individual and society but at the time of access the individuals may not recognise the benefits immediately. The careers service pays back the investment in it over time, to cut it drastically now, along with many other services, to young people is a false economy.

8. If the Government is to stop the EMA at the same time as raising participation in learning the case for independent, impartial career guidance available to all young people becomes even more important. With challenging but appropriate measures in place to monitor the all-age career service there is a real opportunity to impact positively on the lives of young people. Doing so will give the country a real chance of remaining competitive in the global economy and help individuals raise skill levels.

25th March 2011