PRESS RELEASES

 Friday, 25th November 2005

Government Failing to Help Pupils Stay In Education Post-16

A quarter of adults who left school at 16 did so because they could not afford to stay on, a survey by the Learning and Skills Council has said. However, one in three of those thought they would be in better-paid jobs if they had continued to study, while a quarter thought they would have a more fulfilling job. The UK has one of the highest education drop-out rates at age 16 in the industrialised world.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

These figures suggest that pupils are being forced into leaving school early because the Government's Education Maintenance Allowances aren't having a big enough impact. Liberal Democrat plans for radically reforming the curriculum and introducing a diploma to replace A-levels and GCSEs would help keep more people in school for longer.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4467726.stm
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm