Let'a Give Young People a Fighting Chance

A National System for Qualified Assessment

I'd like to share a few thoughts on the qualified assessment of all 16-24 year olds who are not in education or training: which I believe is essential for these young people's future. From what I have heard so far, the biggest challenge to qualified assessment for non-graduates; is not that they don't receive it. The challenge, is that assessment depends on the initiative of the training provider or funding organization.

For example, a school may recommend some of its pupils or students for assessment, and funding or training programmes will then be put in place, to give them certificate qualifications. But only these young people will benefit from it. There may be others in nearby schools, or in the vicinity, who need the same opportunities. The system as a whole, I believe, is too reactive.

The answer should be to ensure that qualified assessment forms an integral part of every youth service. I believe that there must be one national standard of assessment: so that every 16-24 year old non-graduate, who comes into contact with a youth organization, is offered a free full assessment of their skills and abilities. Any ungraded skills should be assessed and qualified, in exactly the same way as for apprentices.

There are of course, certificate qualifications which are already awarded by youth organizations in this way, to reflect general potential - such as a certificate in Personal Achievement, or Mentoring Learner Driver. But from my work for businesses, I know that employers are often looking for a specific skill set, and want specific qualifications to prove this. That is why it is important to offer non-graduates the chance to qualify for transferable, QCF certificates in specialized skills: such as customer service, manual handling or admin experience.

And we shouldn't delay in setting this up. From what I have read, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, 17.4 children in the UK, now live below the poverty line. This is not acceptable. Children who are born into poverty may be given food, clothing or shelter. But their need for opportunity is just as important. Without a good education or training for a career, they may be held down, and denied a future. And there is one important thing we can do to help with this.

Every 16-24 year old must be given the opportunity to prove themselves, by gaining qualifications that reflect their skills. The disadvantaged have no illusions about the challenges they face. Most of the non-graduates I have known have had to work from a young age, and some have worked their way up to have good careers.

If their grades reflected their actual skill level, I submit that most non-graduates actually have many skills from work experience they have had: and if these skills are confirmed by certificate qualifications, they would have the right grades to land the entry level jobs and progression needed for a good career.

So I invite all youth workers and others who want to help, to join our Forum, and see how we can make this happen. You are welcome to visit the pages shown on the links to the side of this page.

Let's set the standard for young people's careers.

Best Regards

James M

Founder