PAT  WELCOMES SCHOOL LEAVING AGE PLANS 

12 January 2007

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT)  - which represents teachers, further education lecturers and education support staff - has welcomed proposals to raise the school leaving age.

PAT General Secretary Philip Parkin said: “ PAT would welcome the inclusion of all 16 to 18 year olds in education or training. This would be a forward-thinking and historic move.

“The economy is changing, with more highly skilled jobs and fewer unskilled ones.  The Government's proposals are the next logical step in a coherent strategy that embraces the Every Child Matters and Extended Schools initiatives.

“Today's news involves the Education Secretary at the DfES. We hope that all parts of the UK will work together on this.

“PAT looks forward to taking part in the consultation process, which needs to address a number of key issues.

“There must be an appropriate curriculum, encompassing both academic and vocational qualifications and with parity between them.

“Training, funding and resources must be provided for  education professionals - teachers, further education lecturers and education support staff - in working with all the extra students, many of whom will have different needs and requirements to those in education at the moment.

“There must be support and motivation for young people to stay on in education or training. It should not be seen by the less motivated as some sort of conscription. There needs to be carrot rather than stick to avoid the image of a new compulsory and onerous National Service.”