Havering Council has launched a campaign, 'Learn Longer for a Better Future', to ensure secondary school pupils are aware of the opportunities open to them when they leave school.
The campaign runs in line with Government plans to raise the age of participation in education from 2013. Havering pupils currently in year nine will leave compulsory education at 17, while those in year eight will leave at 18.
By changing the age young people finish their compulsory education, the Government hopes to help them reach their full potential and not become unemployed.
But rather than staying in the classroom, a range of opportunities will be open to school leavers including college courses, apprenticeships, work-based training and even volunteering to learn vital skills to prepare them for the workplace.
From this month a series of road shows and information events will be taking place across the borough to inform parents about the changes.
Staff from Connexions, which provides advice and guidance to young people to prepare them for their working life, will also be visiting schools to talk to the pupils who are among the first to be affected, about the change and what it means to them.
Councillor Paul Rochford, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said;
"The job market is now a much more competitive place than it once was and many young people are leaving school and becoming unemployed. We don't want that for our young people.
"This change will give them much more choice over how they continue their education, whether they would prefer to learn on the job, take up volunteering, an apprenticeship or study while also working. We want young people in Havering to have all the skills necessary to reach their full potential. This will enable them to learn as much as they can in preparation for their working lives."
The campaign runs in line with Government plans to raise the age of participation in education from 2013. Havering pupils currently in year nine will leave compulsory education at 17, while those in year eight will leave at 18.
By changing the age young people finish their compulsory education, the Government hopes to help them reach their full potential and not become unemployed.
But rather than staying in the classroom, a range of opportunities will be open to school leavers including college courses, apprenticeships, work-based training and even volunteering to learn vital skills to prepare them for the workplace.
From this month a series of road shows and information events will be taking place across the borough to inform parents about the changes.
Staff from Connexions, which provides advice and guidance to young people to prepare them for their working life, will also be visiting schools to talk to the pupils who are among the first to be affected, about the change and what it means to them.
Councillor Paul Rochford, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said;
"The job market is now a much more competitive place than it once was and many young people are leaving school and becoming unemployed. We don't want that for our young people.
"This change will give them much more choice over how they continue their education, whether they would prefer to learn on the job, take up volunteering, an apprenticeship or study while also working. We want young people in Havering to have all the skills necessary to reach their full potential. This will enable them to learn as much as they can in preparation for their working lives."
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