Information on Loughborough

More 16 & 17 years staying at at school than ever before

Posted on 25/06/2008

school books

Eric Goodyer, Labours Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Charnwood, has welcomed new figures published this week showing that record numbers of young people in Leicestershire are staying on in full-time education at 16. The most up to date figures are for the last academic year (2006/7) which show that 71% of 16 and 17 year olds continued in full-time education. When those undertaking work based learning and apprenticeships are included that total rises to 81%. The figures come as the Labour Government prepares to raise the education and training age to 17 from 2013 and to 18 from 2015 and create 90,000 more apprenticeships for under 18s. A proposal that is opposed by the David Cameron.

Eric Goodyer told in Loughborough: “This is great news for Charnwood and I want to see the number of young people in our area staying on in education, training or an apprenticeship rising even further in the years to come. I know from my own experience of being made redundant under the last Tory Government that having a skill enabled me to get back into work. Every young person should be given the chance to fulfil their potential and get the skills they need to succeed in life. That’s why I’m backing Labour’s plans to raise the education age to 18, so that all young people stay on at school, go to college, get an apprenticeship or go into work with one day of training each week.