Education
As a charity which provides support, training and advice to thousands of 14-19 year olds unable to achieve their full potential in mainstream school, we seek to use our experience and knowledge to influence changes to education policy.
Barnardo’s supported the Government’s decision to raise the staying on age in England from 16 to 18. However, ‘more of the same’ will not work for the many young people who leave school as soon as they can, still lacking the skills and confidence they will need for the workplace and adult life.
We are calling for far wider access to vocational courses, with more ‘hands-on’ learning and the opportunity to learn in a real work environment instead of a classroom. We also need better support for young people facing barriers to staying on, such as help with transport and childcare costs, and flexible approaches to learning.
Not the End of the Story: supporting teenage mothers back into education - March 2010
Teen mothers attract little public sympathy and are often written off. At an age when their peers are still in school or college, or taking their first steps into work, they risk being left behind - struggling to care for a baby on their own, dependent on benefits and constrained by a lack of child care.
This report shows that, while pregnancy presents real challenges for very young mothers, it should not mean the end of education or abandonment of ambitions for the future.
Learning from the experience of Barnardo's services and the young women they work with, the report shows how, with the right support, including suitable childcare and flexible courses, young mothers can succeed in education and improve their opportunities and the life chances of their babies.
Download the Not the End of the Story Report(PDF)
Lost in transition: the urgent need to help young school leavers in the recession – September 2009
At this Autumn’s party conferences, Barnardo’s has highlighted the urgent need to help over 200,000 young school leavers across the UK who are already trapped in unemployment.
- Download our policy briefing paper – Lost in transition (PDF)
- Download our leaflet for employers – Opening Doors (PDF) explaining how you can work in partnership with Barnardo’s to offer work experience, training and job opportunities to young people in your local community.
Second Chances: Re-engaging young people in education and training - March 2009
Young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) are often portrayed as ‘idle’ or ‘feckless’, hanging around on street corners rather than getting a job.
Second Chances dispels this stereotype. 75 young people attending Barnardo’s services around the UK spoke about the real challenges they faced, as well as their aspirations.
Barnardo’s services work to unlock the potential and motivation of young people who have been labelled as ‘failures’ at school. Through vocational training and support services, Barnardo’s helps young people overcome barriers to education and training and achieve their ambitions.
We are currently working on 2 follow-up research projects to Second Chances:
- Supporting teenage mothers to re-engage
- Financial support for 16-18 year olds.
School’s out, or is it? Staying on education or training
During Summer 2007 we conducted research with 30 young people from a Barnardo’s service in the North East of England, exploring their experiences of school. We asked why they left (or were excluded) and how they regained their motivation and got back into learning. We also made a DVD with them which we showed at the party political conferences in Autumn 2007.
