GCSE & A level results are released this month, (A Level results – 14th Aug, GCSE results – 21st Aug) many young people will be making decisions on their next steps and will be seeking advice from Connexions Personal Advisers.
www.mychoicelondon.co.uk can aid the decision making process for young people, helping young people to search for courses, build a CV/progression plan, develop a pathway finder and take part in a quiz to see which job area is most suitable.
Educational Maintenance Allowance – Connexions staff will want to be aware of some important changes to the
EMA scheme that affect them, specifically the immediate removal of the extended period of entitlement (or ‘3-in-4’ rule). This allows learners to receive a delayed 3rd year of EMA support in the 4th year following the end of their compulsory education. Connexions staff will no longer have a formal role in endorsing EMA applications from young people aged 19.
Choosing the new Diplomas – This month's briefing from CEIAG News advises practitioners about giving information, advice and guidance on the new diplomas to young people and their parents and carers.
Diploma campaign publicity materials –The DCSF has developed a marketing campaign which aims to raise awareness of the Diplomas. The Bringing Learning to Life Diploma marketing campaign for 2008/2009 will be launched in September and is aimed at parents, young people and key influencer audiences.
Bringing Learning to Life – A sample pack of the ‘Bringing Learning to Life’ Diploma marketing campaign materials will be sent out in early July to those in Consortia delivering Diplomas, this includes Local Authority 14-19 co-ordinators. Please order online or by phone through the DCSF order line on 0845 60 222 60.
Eurodesk – The latest Eurodesk bulletin, with information on events and opportunities in Europe, is available to download.
Connexions Direct User Survey – The
results of the 2008 survey are now available online.
The findings were very positive, with 92 percent of users of the telephone, adviser online and email services reporting that they were very or fairly satisfied with the service, up from 89 percent in 2006.
Young People from different faiths and cultures – Participation Works has published its latest 'How to' guide: How to work successfully with children and young people from different faiths and cultures. The guide provides tips on how to ensure that a diverse range of children and young people can be engaged.
Young People and Employability – The OECD has published
new research calling on the Government to take action to support young people leaving education without qualifications.
Teenage Parents – The DCSF has published a new guide on the commissioning and delivering maternity services for young parents. This guide gives practical suggestions on how to achieve a high-quality service that meets their needs.
Getting that Dream Career is easy according to one in four British teenagers –
New research commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) has revealed that a quarter of English teenagers believe that education is not important in achieving their goals.