£7m funding to help pupils leaving Alternative Provision

A funding package worth £7 million will boost the support offered to Year 11 pupils in Alternative Provision to make the transition from secondary school into post-16 education, work, or training, amid concerns that many may become unemployed after completing their GCSEs.

The money will help schools and colleges pay for tailored support such as transition coaches and mentors to provide one-to-one support for young people in making decisions about where to go after they finish their GCSEs, and helping them stay in education or training in post-16 settings.

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford said: "All pupils deserve an excellent education that sets them up for life - and being excluded from school does not mean being excluded from education.

"As many young people stayed at home to stop the spread of coronavirus, they missed out on time with their teachers and peers. For those attending Alternative Provision, who may have relied on additional support to ease this important transition in their lives, this new funding will help get them back on track, re-engage them in their education and support them on to the next chapter of their lives."

Data shows that just over half (59%) of young people who attend Alternative Provision go on to a sustained post-16 destination, compared to 94% attending mainstream schools, and 23% of the cohort are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).