Plans announced by the Prime Minister today on reforms for high school learning linked to industry need have been broadly welcomed by Staffordshire’s leader – who has called for greater clarity on how this will work locally.
County council leader Martin Murray said that there is widespread recognition that many young people nationally were struggling to find work after completing education, while employers are finding it increasingly difficult to take people on due legislative changes such as the increase in the national minimum wage.
Martin addressed local authority leaders on the subject at the recent Local Government Association conference, reflecting on the Milburn Review – saying it is a national crisis. In Staffordshire the county council and partners are putting in tangible steps to address the issue through its own Get Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Working Plan alongside a new Skills for Growth Plan.
The Government is planning to introduce the new courses from Year 10 which would be linked to local industries and provide young people with a clearer route into employment.
Martin Murray said:
We broadly welcome today’s announcement as a step in the right direction to fix a failing system which is letting our young people down. The number of people not in not in education, employment or training are at their highest level in over a decade which is not acceptable.
Vocational learning in our high schools can help to address fundamental flaws in the current system and importantly link to our local businesses and key sectors. This needs to be shaped by local decision makers and we hope greater moves towards devolution will support this.
As I have previously said, we need a whole system approach as a solution rather than a series of one-off initiatives. In Staffordshire we are already making great strides with our Get Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Working Plan and Skills for Growth Plan – providing detail and clarity on how we will utilise more funding for educational spaces and targeted skills development for all.
We now look forward to working with the Government on greater detail on its plans and how we can make a difference to a generation that wants to succeed and has the talent to turn the country around.”
