Skills bill 'won't criminalise young'

The government has defended its Education and Skills Bill amid criticism from opposition parties.

Schools secretary Ed Balls told MPs during the Bill's second reading in the Commons on Monday that plans to raise the education leaving age to 18 would transform opportunities for young people rather than "criminalise" them.

Ministers want to ensure that all pupils in England will stay in education or training until the end of the school year in which they turn 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015.

Young people will choose either to stay at school or undertake some form of training in a college or workplace environment. Teenagers wanting to enter work from the age of 16 will have to spend at least one day a week in training.

However the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats claim the flagship government proposal will force those who get the least out of learning to either remain in education or be in breach of the law.

Attendance

Those who refuse to take part ultimately face an attendance order - similar to an Asbo - from the local education authority, or a fine. Failure to pay would lead to the youth courts.

Lib Dem children's spokesman David Laws said: "While we support the government's aspiration that more young people should be in education or training until 18, we cannot support the powers to compel and criminalise which are contained in this Bill.

"This Bill contains one of the biggest increases in state powers over the individual in many years.

"It is totally illiberal. And it is frankly bizarre that at a time when the government is considering giving the vote to 16-year-olds, it also believes in criminalising young adults who don't conform to the expectations of ministers.

"Some young people will not want, or even be able, to stay in education or training after 16, but they may want to take up these opportunities at age 18 or 20 - this should be their choice.

"We will seek to amend this Bill to give people the entitlement to take these extra two years of education and training when they wish to, not when Gordon Brown tells them to. And we will seek to remove powers to criminalise those who do not conform."

Age

Coinciding with the Commons debate, a study for Policy Exchange by Professor Alison Wolf concluded that the government has "ludicrously over-estimated the benefits of raising the education and training leaving age to 18 and massively under-estimated the costs".

"The policy will almost certainly have a serious, negative impact on the job market for young people," said the report.

But Balls insisted: "If we do not act now it will be the most disadvantaged young people who will be the losers."

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove challenged him over whether those who refuse to pay the fines could receive custodial sentences. "If not then there is no effective deterrent," he said.

Balls said a "range of options" would be available to the authorities, including some "very tough sentences", but not jail or young offenders institutes.

"One thing that will not be available to the courts is custody for those under 18," he insisted.

Advice

The Bill also includes clauses on the offering of curriculum and careers advice to pupils.

Reports on Monday suggested that it would prevent teachers encouraging pupils to study A-levels rather than the government's new diploma qualifications.

The Bill forbids schools from "unduly promoting any particular options", with critics claiming it would deter teachers from encouraging students to stay in their own institution.

Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, said: "It seems this is inhibiting teachers in their professional practice, [and it] could be connected with a drive to push diplomas at all costs. They will be valuable ladders from school to work - but not an attractive option for all pupils."

And Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, added: "If there is a major educational reform, then the professional judgment of teachers has to be trusted. You can't put a set of restrictions in there about their judgment."

However a spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said the government wanted pupils to have advice on the range of available options.

"It is not about promoting one option over another, since it is up to individual pupils to decide the best route for themselves, in discussion with their parents and teachers," she said

Apprenticeships

Earlier ministers had announced that, in a bid to increase the number of apprenticeships, school leavers are to be given access to an online database of options next year.

The government wants to create 90,000 new apprenticeships by 2013, when the legislation comes into effect.

Balls said: "That is why we are providing taster sessions for young people to try out apprenticeships and encourage young men and women to consider different careers.

"The matching service will allow young people to find their dream position - and help employers get the right person for the post.

"We already have services to help young people find their ideal university place - there is no reason why young people doing apprenticeships shouldn't have the same service.

"With more support for apprenticeships we can make sure that opportunities are available for all and not just for some."