New Directions: What young people’s and parent’s views of vocational education and training tell...

New Directions: What young people’s and parent’s views of vocational education and training tell us about education choices after 16Heidi AgbenyoNovember 2012

Web: www.skillsdevelopment.org Twitter: @skillsdev Email: [email protected] 2

Introduction

About the City & Guilds Centre for

Skills Development (CSD)

Context, challenges and big debates

About the research

Key findings and recommendations


About CSD

The City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development is an

independent, not for profit research and development

body for vocational education and training. It works to

influence and improve skills policy and practice

worldwide through an evidence-based approach. It is

part of the City & Guilds Group.

Web: www.skillsdevelopment.org Twitter: @skillsdev Email: [email protected]

Context, challenges and big debates

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Youth unemployment is at an all time high:

Are young people equipped to compete

in today’s labour market?

University is becoming too expensive; vocational

education is set to benefit.

Information, advice and guidance: Will

changes to provision improve access and

effectiveness?


About the research: What did we investigate?

Young people’s and parents’ views of vocational

education and training

Influences behind young people’s choices of

career/qualification path

The role of information advice and guidance on

influencing education (both general and vocational

education) and careers choices

Young people’s and parents’ views on encouraging the

take up of vocational options.


About the research: Methodology

Quantitative online survey Survey of 1,620 young people aged between 15 and 19, and

1,693 parents of children in this age group.

Within this sample, 1,231 young people and their parents

completed a paired questionnaire

Qualitative discussion surveys Two follow up online discussions with young people.

(vocational and general qualifications).


About the research: The sample

UK-wide England (85%), Wales (5%), Northern Ireland (3%), Scotland (3%) 80% of young people were studying or recently completed qualifications

GCSE’s and A levels 31% were studying or recently completed vocational qualifications

(including BTECs, City & Guilds, apprenticeships and diplomas)

Gender 53% young people were male; 53% parents were female

Ethnic group 14% young people and parents were from black and ethnic minority

groups.

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Making choices

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Making choices contd.

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Making choices

‘I thought about what would most likely keep my options open and was

‘academically’ acceptable .. And kept in mind what I would find interesting.’

Male, 18, general qualifications

Majority of young people said they chose subjects that they are interested in

(74%) or good at (59%).

Less than two-thirds (61%) said they had a career or job in mind.

Only 23% of young people chose vocational courses to help them get a job.

butOlder groups and people from BME groups were more likely to chose

qualifications based on future plans.

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Access, sources and effectiveness of information advice and guidance


Access, sources and effectiveness of information advice and guidance contd.

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Access, sources and effectiveness of careers advice and guidance: Meet the parents

38% of parents said they weren’t confident about giving their children advice Those most likely to be confident giving information and advice about

education and employment were most likely to have: A higher level of education Have children who were in employment, education or training (61% were

confident compared with 51% of parents of young people not in

education, employment or training). Only 37% of parents felt confident providing their children with advice on

vocational qualifications, including apprenticeships compared to other

routes.

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Awareness and understanding of vocational education Parents and young people had similar levels of awareness of the

term ‘vocational education’ but

17% of parents and 23% young people struggled to define the term Young people on general routes made little effort to find out about

vocational qualifications. Young people (general and vocational routes) felt that vocational

qualifications:W ere narrower than A levelsWere less transferable than general qualificationsProvided less opportunities for progression and access to higher skilled jobs.


Encouraging take up of vocational options

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More information needed on the

range of options available for

vocational qualifications and the

implications in terms of progression

on to university and employment.

Call for direct information

experiences such as work

experience, information from

employers and taster sessions.


Conclusions and recommendations

Awarding bodies and learning providers should equip

parents and teachers and advisers to support young

people’s vocational education choices.

Careers advice resources should be targeted to redress

the balance of resources available to young people on

different routes.

Information and advice that emphasises the transferability

of skills and knowledge gained through vocational courses

is needed.

Thank you

Email: [email protected]: http://www.skillsdevelopment.orgTwitter: @skillsdev

http://www.skillsdevelopment.org/

http://twitter.com/skillsdev

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