Schools to ‘ensure pupils have a post-16 destination’

In a bold move, the Prime Minister has declared that all schools will be responsible for ensuring every student has a definitive post-16 pathway. This announcement follows Sir Keir Starmer’s unveiling of a new target aimed at boosting participation in further and higher education.

During the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Starmer stated the intention to abolish the previous Labour government’s goal of having 50% of young individuals attend university, describing it as outdated. Instead, he proposed a more ambitious target: having two-thirds of school leavers either enter university or embark on a high-quality apprenticeship.

According to additional details shared by Downing Street shortly after the announcement, the new goal aims for two-thirds of individuals to engage in higher-level education—whether academic, technical, or through apprenticeships—by age 25, increasing the current figure from 50%.

A supplementary target is set to ensure that by 2040, at least 10% of young people pursue higher technical education or apprenticeships, which is nearly double the current participation levels, thereby addressing the demands of the economy.

Clarification Sought on New Policy

In light of the announcement, Downing Street added that schools will play a pivotal role in ensuring that every student has a clearly defined route following their secondary education, with support from Ofsted, and that there will be a guaranteed safety net of available college or further education provider placements.

While schools have a legal obligation to provide career guidance, the specifics surrounding how much of a student’s post-16 journey they need to facilitate, what support from Ofsted entails, and the operational details of the safety net remain ambiguous.

Local authorities currently have an obligation under the “September guarantee” to secure education and training opportunities for students aged 16 and 17; however, it is yet to be clarified what additional responsibilities will fall on schools, and whether these will be formalized.

Moreover, the government has mandated that colleges must offer a minimum of 100 hours of in-person English and maths instruction for students who did not achieve passing grades in their GCSEs. However, it remains uncertain whether similar expectations will be imposed on schools for sixth form students who also need to retake these subjects.

Starmer’s Commitment to Protect School Workers

In his speech, Starmer also condemned Reform UK’s recent proposal to revoke indefinite leave to remain for immigrants, cautioning that such policies could adversely affect the school workforce. He asserted: “If you suggest that individuals cannot be English or British based on their skin color or heritage, we will resist you with all our strength.”

Starmer’s remarks resonated strongly with conference delegates, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and the contributions of individuals who have established their lives, careers, and communities in the UK.