1. Raising the Participation Age (RPA)
briefing
Hilary Omissi, OBE, Director, RPP
Peter Devereux, Raising Participation Advisor, RPP
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2. Agenda
Introduction and welcome including introduction to
15.30 Hilary Omissi
the Raising Participation Partnership
15.35 RPA – Fact and Fiction Hilary Omissi
15.50 Where are we now? Where do we have to get to? Peter Devereux
16.10 RPA progress to date Peter Devereux
Communicating the RPA message
16.20 ♦ Branding and communication plan Peter Devereux
♦ How can you support?
16.45 Next steps Hilary Omissi
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3. Raising Participation Partnership
Shared service Reading, Slough, West Berks and
Wokingham
Responsible for education and training for
young people 16 – 19
those with LDD 16 – 25
Key priorities:
increasing participation
tackling NEET
work readiness
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4. Raising the Participation Age – what is it?
Education and Skills Act 2008 (duty); Education Act 2011 (delays enforcement)
The duty on a young person is to participate:
– from September 2013 to the end of academic year in
which they are age 17
– from 2015 until their 18th birthday*
“to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to build the skills
and qualifications they need for their future careers”
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5. RPA ….. for a young person
• Full time education or training
• Re-engagement provision or
• Work-based learning e.g.
Apprenticeship or
• Be:
–(self) employed or
–volunteering (incl. caring) or
–on an internship
for more than 20 hours per
week over 8 weeks and attend
part-time learning equivalent to
a day a week or
• Home education
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6. Raising the Participation Age – LA duty
Education and Skills Act 2008 (duty);
The duty on a local authority is to:
– promote the effective participation in education or
training of all 16 and 17 year olds resident in their
area
– Make arrangements to identify young people resident
in their area who are not participating
• Source: DfE September 2102 workshop update for RPA pilot projects
– (complements existing duty to “secure sufficient suitable education and
training……”)
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7. Expectations of employers
<20 hours : no expectations
>20 hours x 8 consecutive
week
– Offer accredited training
– Encourage and facilitate
young people to enrol in
part-time training - equivalent
1 day per week
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8. Encouragement …. (enforcement later)
Duties on:
Local Authorities
Post 16 learning providers
Schools – independent careers guidance
Expectations on:
Parents
Young people – to continue in learning; to
enrol in training if in work
Employers
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9. Where are we now? Where do we want to get to?
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/participation/a00214942/local-authority-education-training
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10. Progress to date ...
RPA Strategy and plan
Research with young
people
Audit
Blueprint survey of 16-17
year olds
DfE pilot project
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14. RPA campaign
January/February
Not a ‘one-off’
Young person’s lead
Local media focus
No additional cost
Area-based
Task and finish group
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15. Some challenges!
• Communicating the right message
• Knowing our cohort
• Drop out (esp. at 17) and transition support
• Independent careers guidance
• Changes in financial support (EMA)
• Encouraging employer engagement
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