By Ashley Young-
Teenagers in Alternative Provision at risk of falling out of education after their GCSEs, are to benefit from a mentoring, pastoral support and careers guidance under plans to level up their opportunities after they leave school at 16.
Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford today announced a one-off funding package worth £7 million to boost the support offered to 11,300 Year 11 pupils making the transition from secondary school into post-16 education, work, or training, amid concerns that many may become unemployed after completing their GCSEs.
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The money will help schools and colleges pay for tailored support.
They include transition coaches and mentors to provide one-to-one support for young people in making decisions about where to go after they finish their GCSEs, and helping them stay in education or training in post-16 settings.
Many pupils are subjected to all manner of influences when they complete their G.C.S.E’s, causing many to opt for immediate paid income to make them feel like adults. This is more the case when they have older friends they admire who are working and earning an income.
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Many pupils who continue to further education like A levels, are fortunate enough to have parents who advice them to continue with their education, or attended secondary schools with a sharp focus on maximising their academic potential through further education.
Mentoring provides much needed guidance and inspiration for teenagers about their future.
Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford said:
”All pupils deserve an excellent education that sets them up for life – and being excluded from school does not mean being excluded from education.
As many young people stayed at home to stop the spread of coronavirus, they missed out on time with their teachers and peers. For those attending Alternative Provision, who may have relied on additional support to ease this important transition in their lives, this new funding will help get them back on track, re-engage them in their education and support them on to the next chapter of their lives.
Data shows that just over half (59%) of young people who attend Alternative Provision go on to a sustained post-16 destination, compared to 94% attending mainstream schools, and 23% of the cohort are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
We asked schools to close to many young people to stop the spread of coronavirus and save lives, and the government is working hard to make sure those pupils who may have missed out on time with their teachers can catch up and move successfully on from their GCSEs into further education, an apprenticeship or training, or into employment”.
Mark Vickers, Chief Executive of Olive Academies Multi-Academy Trust, said:
”I am delighted that additional funding has been secured for targeted transition and mentoring support for Year 11 pupils in alternative provision schools and academies. This announcement has been warmly welcomed by AP and SEND Multi Academy Trust leaders from across the country who can now access extra funding to deliver crucial transition support for pupils who are now at a greater risk of ending up not in employment, education or training. This funding will help ensure that our Year 11s are better equipped for the next stage of their learning journeys.
Sarah Dove, President of the National Organisation of Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision, said:
”Coronavirus has accentuated the vulnerabilities of children in year 11 that are educated in PRUs and Alternative Provision. This transition fund will help support continuity of support and help allow PRUs and AP provide targeted support to help these children to further engage in education and employment opportunities.
PRUs and AP have worked incredibly hard to develop and maintain positive relationships with children and young people during coronavirus, even whilst those children may not have been able to attend. This fund allows a continuation of these professional relationships to bear fruit in terms of ensuring successful outcomes for the students”.
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