Press releases

Youngsters teach politicians a lesson in education

Release Date: 17/09/2007

Barnardo’s is urging the Government to keep the hard to reach, disaffected young people front of mind when planning to raise the school leaving age to 18.

Teenagers with educational or behavioural difficulties, multiple family or substance misuse problems need to be given a choice and to have practical training and support to equip them for sustainable, satisfying employment. The threat of criminal sanctions will not be enough.

Barnardo’s projects working with such young people have proved that believing in children and supporting them into jobs and further education gives them a lifeline and benefits society.

The children’s charity will take the views of youngsters, aged between 13 and 18, to the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats party conferences.

Among the 15 teenagers featured in the ten-minute documentary called Staying On are Norman, 17, from the Palmersville project, and Pauline, 17, from the Base project. They tell in their own words of problems at school, how they managed to turn themselves around with the help of Barnardo’s and their hopes for the future.

Business administrator trainee Norman said: “When decisions are being made it’s important that the views of those it will affect are taken into account.

“That’s why I wanted to be involved in making this DVD – so I could speak on behalf of other people like me and make sure they get the education that’s right for them.”

Barnardo’s fringe events will demonstrate three points it says the Government needs to address if it wants young people to stay on, including:

more vocational options, relevant to their future careers
practical and emotional support to deal with issues that can undermine their education, such as housing difficulties, debt or substance abuse
financial help.

Barnardo’s chief executive Martin Narey said: “The film is heartfelt, compelling and delivers an important message – school doesn’t work for every child, often for reasons beyond their control such as family breakdown, bereavement or homelessness.

“These young people need support, not condemnation, and the opportunity to re-engage in education or training. They need people to believe in them.

“Raising the age of compulsory education represents a once in a generation opportunity to address some of the long-standing weaknesses in 14 to 19 education and training. We need a far stronger vocational offer, an expansion in work-based learning and real alternatives to engage the thousands who drop out at 16.

“There also needs to be far stronger support structures – starting in school – to ensure the challenging circumstances in which some young people grow up do not undermine their education and future life chances.

“Getting this right would represent a great extension of opportunity. Getting it wrong would only further marginalise those who have already been failed by school. It is therefore essential that the Government listens and learns from these young people.”

Barnardo’s will also join other children’s charities in an appeal to politicians to help end child poverty.

Ends

Notes to editors

For more information, interviews and stills of the people featured in the DVD please telephone media officer Rebecca Goding on 020 8498 7555.

To view the film go to mms://www.barnardos.org.uk/staying_on.wmv

The advice is based on the experiences and views of 30 youngsters from three Barnardo’s projects; The Base, in Tyne and Wear, which helps socially excluded youngsters in temporary B&B accommodation, Palmersville Training Centre, in Newcastle, which trains young people with wide-ranging needs in realistic work environments where they can gain qualifications in a range of professions and B76, in Hartlepool, which offers housing advice, pregnancy testing, drug and alcohol advice and help with training and finding employment, among other services.

The film will be used by Barnardo’s at the fringe events called School’s Out! Or Is It? It will kick off a discussion for the different panels about Government proposals to raise the age of compulsory education or training to 18 years. DfES, March 2007, Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16 Although 77% of 16-18 year olds stay on in education or training, just over 10 per cent (206,000 young people in England) are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This proportion has risen slightly since the Labour Government was first elected in 1997, in spite of national targets and successive initiatives to encourage young people to continue learning. DfES, SFR 22/07. In 1997 8.5% of 16-18 year olds were NEET, in 2006 10.3% were.

Barnardo’s party conference fringe events

School’s Out! Or Is It? is sponsored by Lloyds TSB. Barnardo’s is Lloyds TSB’s charity of the year.

Liberal Democrats conference

Monday 17 September

School's Out, Or Is It?

Chestnut Room, Quality Hotel, Brighton, 6.15pm-7.30pm

Labour conference

Monday 24 September

School's Out, Or Is It?

Clifton Suite, Hermitage Hotel, Bournemouth, 6pm-7.30pm

Conservative conference

Sunday 30 September