Young People (Hansard, 3 June 1986)

§ The Prime Minister

In education there has been an increase of 18 per cent. in real terms in spending per pupil between 1979–80 and 1984–85. This has enabled the average size of one-teacher classes between 1979 and 1985 to be reduced from 25.9 to 24.9 in primary and from 21 to 20.4 in secondary. In January 1985, the overall pupil-teacher ratio was at a best ever level of 17.8:1. More young children than ever before are receiving nursery education — an increase from 210,000 to 267,000448W between 1979 and 1985—and the proportion of young people continuing their education beyond compulsory school age has gone up from 40 to 46 per cent. over the same period. The number of students going into higher education has increased by 78,000 to its highest level—a record proportion of a record age cohort. The number of students on science and engineering courses has increased by 30 per cent. The engineering and technology programme launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Science last year will provide a further 5,000 university and polytechnic places in these subjects. In addition, we are placing greater emphasis on the achievements of higher standards.

Our White Paper "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469) set out a range of initiatives to improve standards in schools: we are now taking vigorous action to put these into effect. Examination results have shown a welcome improvement. The number of students leaving school with no qualifications has fallen to below 10 per cent. High priority is being placed on all young people in schools having a broad and balanced education including the opportunity of following a more relevant and practical curriculum: under the technical and vocational education initiatives which started in 1983, and which will involve over 100,000 young people, pilot projects run by education authorities are exploring ways of organising the technical and vocational education of students of all abilities in the 14 to 18 range. In aggregate this will cost £250 million over nine years. In addition, first year enrolments are exceeding expectation for the new certificate of pre-vocational education designed for 16-year-olds remaining in full-time education who are not taking a specific academic or vocational course. In addition, we are promoting the use of computers and information technology in schools through the new micro-electronics education support unit, enhanced teacher training, and through the software in schools scheme. Government expenditure this year on new technology in schools will be some £6 million. We are also promoting better links between industry and education through a variety of projects. The current scheme for Industry Year, to encourage every school to have a mini-enterprise, is an example.

We are acting to improve the quality of teaching. We are promoting more purposeful in-service training and the introduction of new appraisal arrangements. And we have offered substantial additional resources for school teachers' pay, beyond the recent increases, in return for a bargain on duties, appraisal and career development and on a new salary structure which will better reward responsibility, leadership and commitment.

In the field of youth training, the training scheme (YTS) has already helped one million young people and will now provide two years of high quality training and planned work experience for 16-year-old school leavers, and one year for 17-year-old leavers. It will place particular emphasis on quality and occupational relevance; all entrants will have the chance to gain a recognised vocational qualification or credit towards one.

Other measures to enhance the employment prospects of young people include the new workers scheme announced in this year's Budget; the job release scheme; the community programme; and community industry. Our reforms of the wages council system will also make it easier for young people to find work at a rate of pay which they will accept and employers can afford.

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For the youth service, we have established a new youth service unit within the Department of Education and Science; published the first circular on youth service policy generally for many years; and established a new national advisory council for the youth service. Grants payable to national voluntary youth organisations for headquarters expenditure have also been substantially increased in total.

The Government have developed a comprehensive strategy for tackling all aspects of drug misuse including an information and education campaign, the appointment of prevention co-ordinators in each local education authority and the expansion of treatment and rehabilitation services. A £1 million pilot campaign to deter teenagers from smoking has also been launched.

In the field of sports and recreation, increased grant to the Sports Council has supported initiatives specifically aimed at encouraging young people to take part in sport and recreation. The Council's national action sport programme, jointly funded by the Manpower Services Commission, will employ over 1,000 sports leaders to encourage young people to take up sport.

Our policies to encourage home ownership have benefited young people and particularly first-time buyers. This country has a very high proportion of owner-occupation in the younger age categories: some 25 per cent. of householders under 25 are owner-occupiers—the highest proportion in Europe.