Raising the Participation Age Trials Josephine Howarth Raising the Participation Age Unit Department for Education October 2010

The RPA Trials were commissioned to support the education system for this change by developing approaches to inform national and local implementation Phase 1: September 2009 to March 2010 – 11 areas Phase 2: April 2010 to March 2011: expanded to a further five areas (*) activities have a much more specific focus, building on the findings of the evaluation Supported by the National RPA Adviser – Dee Desgranges Split against three models: Full IAG Re-engagement process Local solutions Derby Barnsley Cumbria Staffordshire Swindon East Sussex Lambeth Wandsworth Greater Manchester Ealing* Worcestershire* Hertfordshire Plymouth* Blackpool* Coventry/Solihull/Warwickshire* Newcastle Split against three models: Full IAG – how local authorities can work most effectively in securing a full IAG offer for young people to support RPA Re-engagement process building on the September Guarantee, that effectively picks up those 16 and 17 year olds that disengage with learning through the year and re-engages them Area-wide strategies for tackling local challenges and developing local solutions to deliver full participation with a specific focus on young people in a job without training

In phase 1 trial areas undertook a wide range of activity with a number of interesting developments and findings A full IAG offer Activity aimed at different cohorts: Years 7-9, Years 10-11, post-16 the need to better join up and co-ordinate RPA activity with other IAG activity already taking place, in particular Aim Higher awareness raising needs to focus on promoting understanding of the choices available Re-engagement process All areas placed significant emphasis on developing their tracking systems Also a focus on the join between pre and post 16 tracking systems - to focus on those at risk of becoming NEET Development of pre-16 ‘at risk of NEET’ indicators; early leaver/managed moves protocols Local Solutions interesting models for managing the delivery of RPA across local authorities or travel to learn areas new approaches to engaging employers with RPA and exploring approaches to the jobs without training cohort

The learning from phase 1 yielded some important recommendations for phase 1 and potentially wider implementation The importance of: Overall Focus and Clarity – to ensure the value added of trial activities; keeping a tight brief to determine what has and hasn’t worked Providing senior leadership to provide strategic oversight to the operational work and make the links across Understanding the cohort and developing leading indicators – the importance of data in establishing priorities; the value of in-depth research with specific target cohorts Providing local drive and impetus to create momentum and engage all providers – championing RPA, galvanising the whole system

Case Study: Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI) Trial areas in partnership with Connexions and other key partners have developed a tool to assist secondary schools identify students at risk of becoming NEET once they leave compulsory education. RONI uses a number of risk factors for which data is easily obtained Attendance Special Educational Needs Exclusions Attainment results Looked after children Traveller Medical Conditions Free School Meals Secondary schools can use RONI to draw down reports for a whole year group or for an individual tutor group The tool is being used to identify students in year 9 onwards who are at risk of becoming NEET and enables schools to arrange appropriate support that will help avoid this outcome Impact - At the start of the trials Barnsley identified 243 young people at risk of disengaging. 214 remained in learning by the end of phase 1

Phase 2 of the trials aims to build on existing planning and good practice generated in phase 1 Objectives for phase 2 of the trials: To strategically inform national policy To provide useful learning and practice to be disseminated to others To generate momentum across the country to help galvanise the system Key focus on sharing the learning: Networking amongst themselves to avoid re-inventing the wheel – e.g. RONIs, data analysis Developing and testing tools and products that could inform others’ approaches Disseminating findings to non trial areas – through a wide variety of means Phase 2 evaluation objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the trial activities and support provided To capture the good practice through detailed case studies/guides To provide recommendations on future activities and support Tools and products – we’re looking at how to facilitate the sharing Disseminating findings – events, presentations, possible visits

A bit about the Department’s re-organisation David Bell Permanent Secretary Tom Jeffery Director General Children, Young People and Families Jon Coles Education Standards Lesley Longstone Infrastructure and Funding Sue Higgins Finance and Corporate Services