Working in Partnership for a Greater Manchester North West Youth Employment Convention The Studio, Manchester 23 November 2011 Wendy Cooke Assistant Director (14 – 19) GM Skills and Employment Partnership

Working in Partnership for a Greater Manchester Population of 2.6 million Travel-to-work commuter population of 5 million April 2011: established as a ‘Combined Authority’

Working in Partnership for Young People Policy context: Raising the Participation Age (RPA) to age 17 by 2013 and to age 18 by 2015 Austerity measures mean reduced funding to local authorities, ‘providers’ and agencies supporting young people

Working in Partnership for Young People Where we are now: c 75,000 young people aged 16 – 18 (post-compulsory education) c 89% in education, employment or training (EET) c 8% not in education, employment or training (NEET) c 3% ‘not known’ variations between each local authority area Note: ‘snapshot’ at May 2011 provided by GM Connexions Services

Where do young people aged learn in Greater Manchester? In Colleges of Further Education (10) and Sixth Form Colleges (11) 71% In school sixth forms and academies (over 40 and growing!)11% Through training providers for Apprenticeship provision 10% and other work-based learning 7% – 55 in the GM Learning Provider Network In Independent Specialist Colleges (for learners with learning difficulties/disabilities)

What do young people aged learn in Greater Manchester? 52% study at Level 3 - A levels, applied and vocational qualifications 24% study at Level 2 - equivalent to the normal school leaving benchmark of 5 GCSEs grade A* - C 24% study at Level 1 or entry level - below the normal school leaving benchmark of 5 GCSEs grade A* - C

Implications of RPA Current education leaving age is 16, but most young people continue in learning until at least 17 From 2013, all young people must continue in learning for a further full academic year, during which they will have their 17 th birthday From 2015, all young people must continue in learning until (at least) their 18 th birthday

Implications of RPA Young people will not have to stay in school! Participation in learning can be: Studying in an FE or sixth form college Studying in a school with sixth form provision Being employed as an Apprentice Being employed and undertaking accredited learning for the equivalent of at least one day per week

Implications of RPA Issues to address: Identifying young people at risk of NEET, pre and post-16 Ensuring appropriate provision is in place for all young people, including Apprenticeships Addressing the specific needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people Tracking young people’s destinations Working with employers and other partners (parents!) to deliver RPA

Implications of RPA Understanding the impact of recent policy change: Changes to the delivery of information, advice and guidance and careers education from 2012 Reductions in the amount of financial support available to disadvantaged young people in post-16 learning Increases in fees for Higher Education – up to £9,000 per year from 2012 Ending of the Aimhigher programme which supported young people from families with no tradition of higher education

The National Context: Youth (16 – 24) unemployment now over 1 million (c 45,000 in GM) Unrest in our major cities in August The emergence of a ‘feral underclass’? Or a lost generation?

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester Agreeing priorities across the 10 areas: Increasing participation, particularly at age 17 Developing provision which meets the needs of young people and the economy Developing Apprenticeship pathways Supporting our most vulnerable learners Raising achievement and progression to further learning/employment at age 18 Reducing (eliminating?) NEET

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester Establishment of a GM Skills and Employment Partnership to support: All GMCA areas in discharging their statutory duties with regard to 16 – 19 provision The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in delivering economic growth Schools, colleges and providers in shaping provision to meet economic needs The supply of labour market intelligence to inform learner choice

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester SEN Pathfinder Status for GM Developing a more holistic approach to the education, health and care needs of our most vulnerable children and young people 20 bids approved out of 60 received from 99 LAs with PCT partners Led by Manchester, Oldham/Rochdale, Trafford and Wigan Commitment to share learning across all GM areas and beyond

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester Helping us get there …. Development of a GM Participation Framework: - Working towards full participation in appropriate learning - In anticipation of the national strategy - Understanding the cohort – early intervention pre and post-16 to prevent NEET - Developing appropriate provision - Ensuring support is in place - eg age appropriate IAG - Communicating with all partners

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester Helping us get there …. Development of common ‘tools’ and goals such as: - The GM Inspiring IAG award The GM Prospectus of post-16 learning The CCIS ‘Hub’ – tracking across borders - A ‘1 in 4’ Apprenticeship target - The ‘Aspirational Futures’ project: developing capabilities for learning, living and work - A combined budget for LLDD across GM (?)

Working in Partnership in Greater Manchester Thank you!