Roll-out of 16 to 19 study programmes ‘too slow’

Last September, a number of changes were made to the education and training of 16 to 19-year-olds. These included raising the participation age to 17 (it rises again to 18 in 2015), new 16 to 19 funding arrangements, and new study programmes.

Another key change has been the requirement that any 16-year-old without a C in GCSE English or maths must continue to study the subjects post-16 until they reach this benchmark.

However, an Ofsted investigation into the early implementation of the reforms found “disappointingly little change” to Level 3 programmes – “particularly in schools and academies”.

The new requirements mean that 16 to 19 study programmes must be “individualised” and include qualifications that “stretch the learner and link clearly to progression routes”. They should also allow for “meaningful work experience” or other activities to develop personal skills.