A Bradford MP will this week demand children can leave school at 15 if they learn a trade and have achieved adequate grades in maths, science and English.
MP Philip Davies (Con, Shipley) has tabled an amendment to the Education and Skills Bill to include the provision to allow youngsters to leave school and undertake a vocational qualification.
They would also have to have the permission of their head teacher, parent or guardian and have achieved a certain standard in the three core subjects.
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Mr Davies said: "There would be safeguards in place and all the criteria would have to be met. There are a lot of children who are not academically minded who, in effect, are wasting their time. But if they had the chance to do some vocational training it would be an incentive to knuckle down."
Stuart Herdson, branch secretary and past president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said in March that the scheme would provide disaffected pupils with a second chance at success.
Mr Herdson wants youngsters classed as NEETS - not in employment, education or training - to have the chance to work towards a vocational qualification which could lead to skilled employment or an apprenticeship.
Backing the call, he said: "This is something the Government should look at very seriously. If the child knew they had the chance to move on it would stimulate them and they may pay more attention."
The number of NEETs in Bradford is 870, compared with 1,010 in 2006, and Mr Herdson said the numbers could continue to fall, as undertaking a vocational course would mean they could make a valuable contribution to society.
By 2015 it will be compulsory for everyone to stay in some form of education or training until they are 18. Ministers believe too many people leave school without qualifications.
Mr Davies has also tabled an amendment calling for local authorities to provided orphans with an allowance of between £100 and £200 a week in addition to any other benefits they may be able to claim. The cash should also increase with the retail price index each year, and would be provided from the age of 16 to 21, as long as they are in full-time education.
This move follows publicity over the plight of student Kirsty Oldfield, of Shipley, who was orphaned and faced having to leave school because she could not afford to support herself.
It is in the hands of Commons speaker Michael Martin to decide whether the amendments should be debated.
Posted by: peter, oxenhope on 12:14pm Mon 12 May 08
I am not a supporter of the conservative party, but I believe it is radical, modern ideas, with the future of our children and our people in mind, like this one, that will eventually alter peoples perception of political parties of the future.
I am not a supporter of the conservative party, but I believe it is radical, modern ideas, with the future of our children and our people in mind, like this one, that will eventually alter peoples perception of political parties of the future.
Posted by: holden caulfield, bradford on 2:19pm Mon 12 May 08
Mr Herdson is sadly out of touch if he beleives that this would provide 'disaffected' pupils with a second chance. If this option were to be available to those who have achieved a satisfactory standard in English Science and Maths then this would preclude those 'disaffected' pupils who are usually those who struggle to attain even the minimum educational standards.
Mr Herdson is sadly out of touch if he beleives that this would provide 'disaffected' pupils with a second chance. If this option were to be available to those who have achieved a satisfactory standard in English Science and Maths then this would preclude those 'disaffected' pupils who are usually those who struggle to attain even the minimum educational standards.
Posted by: driver, Shipley on 5:26pm Mon 12 May 08
I left school at 15 along with many of my friends who mainly entered employment which offered further training and education.
I didn't like school and was glad to leave. Since then I have enjoyed full employment and am retired on an occupational pension.
The difference would seem to be that we all had jobs to go to back then. It would be sad see todays youth caught up in dubious government schemes with little prospect of proper future employment.
I left school at 15 along with many of my friends who mainly entered employment which offered further training and education.
I didn't like school and was glad to leave. Since then I have enjoyed full employment and am retired on an occupational pension.
The difference would seem to be that we all had jobs to go to back then. It would be sad see todays youth caught up in dubious government schemes with little prospect of proper future employment.
Posted by: Where is me hat?, Bradford on 8:35pm Mon 12 May 08
Driver
I agree with you - many people aren't suited for being force fed facts and react better to picking it up as the do the job.
Things worked much better when we accepted this and streamed people into secondary moderns and grannar schools rather than forcing everyone into the same mould.
In my case I look at myself (grammar school and oxford) and my brother (secondary modern and yts) - but at the end of the day we both got what we wanted out of life and are happy.
Driver
I agree with you - many people aren't suited for being force fed facts and react better to picking it up as the do the job.
Things worked much better when we accepted this and streamed people into secondary moderns and grannar schools rather than forcing everyone into the same mould.
In my case I look at myself (grammar school and oxford) and my brother (secondary modern and yts) - but at the end of the day we both got what we wanted out of life and are happy.
Posted by: Shabana, London on 6:44am Tue 13 May 08
I didnt attend school much For me i have to say if i had stayed in keighley i would of ended up like most of my class fellows. Instead i left keighley ,got married to a man than constantly encouraged me to get back in to education but it never happened then surstart hit central london then i found my reasons to claim my life back! Now 18 years down the line i am a successful Outreach worker whos be honoured a downing street, and in fulltime employment for the last two years using my story to encourage familys that they can just like me move there life in a totally new direction if the desire change. (But not leave it as long as me before realising leave school at an early age in today day age is not a good career move!
I didnt attend school much For me i have to say if i had stayed in keighley i would of ended up like most of my class fellows. Instead i left keighley ,got married to a man than constantly encouraged me to get back in to education but it never happened then surstart hit central london then i found my reasons to claim my life back! Now 18 years down the line i am a successful Outreach worker whos be honoured a downing street, and in fulltime employment for the last two years using my story to encourage familys that they can just like me move there life in a totally new direction if the desire change. (But not leave it as long as me before realising leave school at an early age in today day age is not a good career move!
Posted by: Shabana, London on 6:47am Tue 13 May 08
P.S I am also talking as a mother of a young child who turns 15 this year. Who thankfully has already taken a different route to me in life, and is very interested in education and already thinks about what she will do at Uni
P.S I am also talking as a mother of a young child who turns 15 this year. Who thankfully has already taken a different route to me in life, and is very interested in education and already thinks about what she will do at Uni
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