The ‘invisible’ learners falling through the cracks

Government data misses the 33,000 students leaving college in the first six weeks
16th December 2016, 12:00am
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The ‘invisible’ learners falling through the cracks

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/invisible-learners-falling-through-cracks

More than 30,000 young people leave colleges each year without ever being recorded in official statistics, TES can reveal.

Data collected by colleges across the country over the past two years shows an increase of more than 13 per cent in the number of full-time 16-19 learners dropping out of their programme in the first six weeks without transferring to another course at the same college. This means that institutions do not receive funding for them - and nor are they included in success-rate data.

College and charity leaders said that it was impossible to know the reasons why such students left and whether they simply chose to follow a different career path, were unable to cope with the pressures of college life or were influenced by personal circumstances.

More action is needed to provide better careers information, advice and guidance to help young people make the best choices about their education, experts have warned.

Higher risk at lower levels

In 2015-16, the number of full-time 16-19 students who withdrew from their course within six weeks rose to about 33,000 (6 per cent of the total), up from 29,000 (4.9 per cent) two years earlier.

The statistics also show that in 2015-16, one in 10 learners on level 1 programmes left within the first six weeks of the course, compared with one in 25 studying at level 3, suggesting that lower-level learners are most at risk of dropping out.

There are also significant disparities between subject areas. The early dropout rate in languages, literature and culture courses stands at 12 per cent, compared with less than 5 per cent in arts, media and publishing, and less than 3 per cent among A-level students.

While college leaders stress that many of these students will have moved on to another course or into an apprenticeship, the figures highlight the significant barriers to remaining in education.

Shakira Martin, vice-president for FE at the NUS students’ union, said that learners with financial or mental health difficulties, young carers and single parents were often most at risk of dropping out of education.

The former Lewisham Southwark College student said: “If it wasn’t for my family, I would have dropped out around Christmas. If you look at those who drop out, it is probably those who have challenges outside the college.”

Funding pressures on colleges also meant some institutions were not able to “go the extra mile” to support students, she added.

Jacob Tas, chief executive of social justice charity Nacro, said that young people could “fall through the gaps for many reasons, ranging from having a chaotic family or personal life, bereavement, bullying, mental and physical ill health to [spending] periods in the criminal justice system or being a young carer”.

If it wasn’t for my family, I would have dropped out

“These circumstances can often lead to a lack of engagement and progression in education that can have a lifelong impact,” he added. “One size does not fit all, and ensuring a range of different pathways…could help to prevent young people dropping out of college or sixth forms after very short periods of time - and then potentially becoming invisible.”

Ian Ashman, merger adviser to Hackney and Tower Hamlets colleges and president of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said that financial difficulties were often a significant factor behind the decision to end a course early, especially given that funding cuts under the coalition government had led to a reduction in specialist support staff. Close cooperation between colleges and support agencies was vital, he added.

Support lacking

Fiona Aldridge, assistant director for research at the Learning and Work Institute, said retention rates were higher in colleges that offered flexibility for learners to move between courses in the first few weeks.

“We have concerns that dropout rates are particularly high for some groups of learners - such as young adult carers, learners experiencing mental health conditions and those with undeclared learning difficulties - and we believe it’s vital that they receive high-quality support to succeed,” she added.

AoC chief executive David Hughes said that colleges “work very hard to retain as many students as possible, trying to ensure they are on the right course to help them towards their chosen career”.

He added: “It is important to give young people choices and allow for changes because growing up is partly about experimenting and trying different things.”

“Young people deserve space to try different things, and the choice and breadth of education and training…We need high-quality careers education and guidance to ensure that they are aware of all the options available post-16.”

@JBelgutay

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