N= 544 More than one answer could be given so percentages do not sum to
3.5 Future plans of young people who participated in the programme
In addition to their immediate post-16 destinations, the young people who had participated in the IFP and responded to the post-16 survey indicated their
42
It is worth noting that there were only seven girls’ schools and eight boys’ schools in the sample, therefore, this finding is based on small numbers of students.
longer term career plans through the post-16 survey (Table 3.25). A total of 31 per cent of the 913 students who were undertaking a full-time course or training programme post-16 planned to leave full-time education after two years in college or sixth form. Only four per cent reported that they planned to leave after only one year in college. Just over one third of the young people stated that they intended to leave full-time education in their early twenties, after taking a university course. This indicated that a notable proportion of young people who took a vocational course pre-16 are considering continuing into higher education in the future.
Table 3.25 Young people’s views on when they will leave full-time education
Intend to leave %
At age 17, after one year in college or in sixth form 4 At age 18, after two years in college or in sixth
form 31
In my early twenties, after taking a university or
other higher education course 34
Not sure yet 24
No response 7
N= 913
A single response item
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100
Source: NFER Evaluation of Increased Flexibility Programme: Post-16 Survey of Young People, 2004
Table 3.26 presents the young people’s views on what they thought they would be doing in two year’s time. Just over one third of respondents reported that they thought they would be in employment in two years’ time: 22 per cent in a new job, and 12 per cent in the same job they were currently doing. In contrast, a total of 42 per cent of the young people indicated that they saw themselves in full-time education in two year’s time: 11 per cent taking a course at college, and 31 per cent taking a course at university. Fifteen per cent of respondents were not sure what they would be doing in two year’s time, while the remaining seven per cent said that they thought they would be taking a break from work or study (four per cent), looking after their home or family (one per cent) or doing something else (two per cent).
Table 3.26 Young people’s views on where they see themselves in two years’ time
Plans in two years’ time %
In a new job 22
In the same job I am doing now 12
Taking a course at college 11
Taking a course at university or higher education institution
31
Taking a break from work or study 4
Looking after home/family 1
Something else 2
Not sure 15
No response 3
N= 1176
A single response item
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100
All those who were taking a course or training programme post-16
Source: NFER Evaluation of Increased Flexibility Programme: Post-16 Survey of Young People, 2004
Around half of the young people who indicated that they were currently working towards A2 levels (56 per cent) and AS levels (54 per cent), said that they anticipated leaving education in their early twenties. However, the proportions of young people currently working towards NVQs, GNVQs and other vocational qualifications who intended to leave education in their early twenties were smaller (eight per cent, 13 per cent and 27 per cent respectively). Around one third of young people who were working towards NVQs (34 per cent), GNVQs (39 per cent) and other vocational qualifications (35 per cent) said that they intended to leave full-time education at age 18. This suggests that students taking these types of qualifications post-16 were less likely to continue in education post-18, but that a notable minority were considering this option.
A greater proportion of young people who were taking NVQs, GNVQs and other vocational qualifications indicated that they were not sure when they might leave full-time education (34 per cent, 39 per cent and 35 per cent respectively) than those who were engaged in A2 Levels and AS levels (12 per cent and 19 per cent respectively). This may reflect a need for guidance regarding future choices for young people who pursue qualifications other than AS and A2 levels post-16. In addition, young people who were pursuing AVCEs appeared to be slightly less likely to consider leaving full-time education in their early twenties (36 per cent) then those taking A2 levels and AS levels (56 per cent and 54 per cent) and were more likely to anticipate leaving at age 18 (38 per cent) than those taking A2 levels and AS levels (24 per cent and 23 per cent).
Further analysis of the data in Table 3.25 revealed that there was an association between young people’s destinations post-16 and what they expected to be doing in two year’s time. Young people who were on a course in a school sixth form were significantly more likely than respondents overall to indicate that they expected to be taking a course at university or taking a break from work or study in two year’s time. Those currently on a course at college or in a school sixth form were also significantly more likely to report that they expected to be at university in two year’s time than respondents overall. In contrast, young people in an Apprenticeship or in a job with training post-16 were significantly more likely than respondents overall to report that they expected to be in the same job they are currently doing, and were less likely to indicate that they expected to be at university. Similarly, young people in a job without training were significantly more likely than young people overall to report that they expected to be in the same job or in a new job, and were significantly less likely to indicate that they expected to be on a course at university.
3.6 Conclusion
The evidence from the surveys of young people and the information provided by schools indicates that around 90 per cent of IFP participants progressed into education, employment and training after leaving Year 11 which exceeds the target for IFP partnerships of 75 per cent. The majority of the sample of survey respondents pursued a course-based route and, for the majority of these, this was at a higher level than the course they had undertaken through IFP. While some young people appeared to have a continuing commitment to the subject area that they had pursued through IFP, a similar proportion were engaged in an alternative area.
Students’ experience of IFP appeared to have influenced their post-16 choice in some instances. Those who had taken GCSEs in vocational subjects had an increased probability of progressing into education, employment or training after Year 11 while those who had taken GNVQs had a decreased likelihood of doing so. Around two-fifths of young people indicated that IFP had been an influence on their choice of destination post-16 and those whose experience of the programme had entailed undertaking an NVQ or GNVQ, and those with lower levels of attainment post-16, were more likely to report that participation in IFP had influenced their choices. Although the majority of young people surveyed were content with their destination after Year 11, and few had changed their initial destination, nearly half indicated that they would have liked additional help and guidance in making their decision. It was notable that young people who had chosen a work-based route post-16, and those who had embarked on a job without training or were taking a break from work and study, were more likely to indicate that they would have liked more help in exploring local job opportunities.