Press Release: Labour must do more to help potential students
A new report from the Sutton Trust shows that widespread poor education and careers advice is preventing large numbers of academically able pupils from non-privileged homes going on to higher education.
Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said:”This new evidence gives a damning verdict on Labour’s eleven years in office. The proportion of young people from lower-income backgrounds who cannot realise their full potential is alarming.
“We need much better advice on higher education, more information for young people choosing A-Levels and a careers adviser in every school. That is why our proposed independent all-age careers service is so important.
“The Government must provide earlier, more sustained and more integrated support if they are to stop letting our young people down.”
Notes to Editors
1. The Sutton Trust publish ‘Increasing higher education participation amongst disadvantaged young people and school in poor communities’ on Tuesday, 28 October 2008.
2. The Conservative Party’s Green Paper on skills, issued in July 2008, proposed:
· redirecting funds currently used on administration and inadequate careers advice to provide £180 million of funding for a careers adviser in every secondary school and college
· a new all-age careers advice service to provide a community-based source of advice and guidance for people of all ages
(http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2008/07/A_skills_revolution.aspx)
ENDS