This document provides an agenda and summary for a briefing on Raising the Participation Age (RPA) in the UK. The briefing discusses: the key facts about RPA and requirements for young people to participate in education or training up until age 18; the current state of participation and goals; progress made to date including research, audits, and briefings; and next steps such as a branding and communication plan to promote the campaign. Challenges are also noted around ensuring the right message is communicated, supporting at-risk youth, and encouraging employer participation.

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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11. Progress to date ...
 Information
 Support
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12. Progress to date ...
Briefings with
Local authorities
Schools and colleges
Our partners
Recognition of NEET tool
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13. Progress to date ...
 Branding
 RPA strategy and plan
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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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16. How can you support ?
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