New right to post-GCSE education

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All 16-year-old school leavers should be offered the chance to continue their education from this September, the government has told local authorities.

Ministers have written to councils in England to remind them of the duty to offer a suitable option to young people with no post-GCSE educational place.

Schools minister Jim Knight said the move would widen youngsters' chances.

But college leaders said there was still a real need to let people know of this "fantastic new entitlement".

What we want to happen very quickly is for careers advisers to let people know Maggie ScottAssociation of Colleges

Schools and councils are required to ensure they have measures to ensure pupils are aware of their post-16 opportunities under what is known as the September Guarantee before they leave school.

But inquiries by the BBC News website among teaching representatives suggest many in the profession are unaware of the new duty.

The director of learning and quality at the Association of Colleges, Maggie Scott, said it was an "absolutely critical time" for those youngsters who had been disappointed with their GCSE grades and had their "heads down".

"If there's evidence that people don't know about it - and we haven't done any research - then what we want to happen very quickly is for careers advisers to let people know."

She said colleges were "tooled up and ready" to accept any referrals, but questioned whether clear guidance had been disseminated to schools and careers advisers by the government.

The September Guarantee is part of plans to reduce the proportion of young people not in education or training, known as Neets.

Recent figures showed that 11% of 16 to 18-year-olds in England are still outside education, training or work.

Tracked

But by 2013 youngsters will be legally required to stay on in education and training until the age of 18.

Mr Knight said: "We are reminding local authorities of their responsibility to deliver the new September Guarantee.

"It means that everyone can be confident of getting on a suitable course if they decide to stay on after their GCSEs."

A letter to directors of children's services in councils across England earlier this year said they would "need to take the lead on challenging all local agencies to ensure young people do not get lost in the system".

Local councils are having to work with the Learning and Skills Council and the youth advice service Connexions, to ensure that school leavers' details are recorded so they can be tracked and contacted.

Then it is hoped that anyone without a place in school, college or vocational training would be offered one by the end of September 2007.

Mailshots, text messages and phone calls could all be used to make young people aware of the options available.

Any offers made would have to be recorded so that those who have not received any by the cut-off date could be identified and given ongoing help.

The numbers of those without the offer of a place would be monitored by the LSC and Connexions on a regular basis.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families would be sent information on the numbers in learning as a result of the scheme by the end of February 2008.