Pupil fines won't work - Blunkett

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Former Education Secretary David Blunkett has called plans to fine young people who are not in education or training "cloud-cuckoo land".

He insisted he agreed that education or training should continue to the age of 18 but told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions fining those who opt out was misguided.

Under the new Education and Skills Bill, the school leaving age will effectively be raised to 18 by 2015.

Pupils who fail to comply are expected to face fines or community service.

'Deeply damaged'

Mr Blunkett, education secretary from 1997 to 2001, said: "I'm against the idea... that deeply damaged young men and women could somehow be fined and it would make them go into education or training. I think it's cloud-cuckoo land."

He said the process of working with pupils who had become alienated from the traditional education system should start earlier and warned being compelled to stay on would not work for these teenagers.

It was important to look at why children aged 12 or 13 truant and allow them one day a week in college or work to get them out of the traditional classroom setting, he said.

Older children aged 16 and 17 should be offered the chance to volunteer and engage in projects which have "nothing to do with traditional college courses", he added.

Under government proposals, young people could face fixed penalty notices if they do not attend specified training or education.

If the penalty is not paid, the teenager could go before the youth court and face a fine or community service.