Apprenticeships and the impact on social mobility
It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on apprenticeships. While the pandemic did not create inequalities, it has certainly exacerbated them.
Too many young people are being held back from achieving their potential, unable to get the skills that they need to achieve what they want with their lives.
Nacro’s new campaign is calling on the Government to remove barriers to education for disadvantaged 16-19 year olds so they can Learn Without Limits.
One in five young people will not achieve the equivalent of five good GCSEs by the age of 19. Find out why we need to act now.
To ensure every young person, no matter their background, can achieve their potential. We want to see:
1. A Pupil Premium Plus: an extension of the extra funding given to disadvantaged pupils (Pupil Premium), to 16–19-year-olds.
2. A guaranteed range of high-quality, employer endorsed vocational or technical qualifications at Level 2 and below.
3. A Digital Inclusion Guarantee to close the digital divide, incorporating the guarantee of data and devices for all young people; digitally enabling staff at education providers, and ensuring all providers digital infrastructure can cater for online learning.
Learn about our other campaigns
I was actually quite bright when I was in primary school. I got quite good grades, but then they slipped when I went to high school. I didn’t have someone that could push me in a different direction when I was doing bad.Read Adam’s story here
Policy focus on the attainment gap between those from economically deprived backgrounds and their peers has traditionally focused on children up until the age they take their GCSEs.
Since its introduction in 2010, the pupil premium has helped sharpen the focus on improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils.
As we look back over the devastation the pandemic has wreaked on many young people’s educational careers over the last two years, it’s clear that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have been the most adversely affected.
It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on apprenticeships. While the pandemic did not create inequalities, it has certainly exacerbated them.
As the new school year starts, many young people will be taking their next step on their academic journey – moving into college or starting an apprenticeship.
Introduced in 2011 by the Coalition Government, it is a grant paid to schools to help reduce the attainment gap for disadvantaged school-age children. It is an existing policy lever that can be pulled by extending the funding into post-16 settings at the upcoming spending review. A Pupil Premium Plus (PP+).
Level 2 vocational courses (equivalent to GCSE) give young people a stepping stone towards higher-level qualifications, higher education or directly into employment.
Young people facing barriers have hopes and dreams that they should be able to fulfil. Read what our learners have to say about their hopes for their future self.