Advice on offer for young people after results day
CAREERS Wales is helping young people in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot understand their options as thousands prepare to receive their A-level and GCSE results over the next two weeks.
In collaboration with the Welsh Government, the 2018 ‘Where Now?’ campaign is encouraging young people and their parents/ guardians to visit www. careerswales.com/wherenow to understand their options.
Where Now? is funded by the Welsh Government and Careers Wales with the support of the European Social Fund.
Alongside the campaign, on results days, help and advice will be delivered through Careers Wales’ live webinars/web chats, social media chats, Skype support, support sessions at dedicated career centres and through its helpline phone service.
Data released by Careers Wales in the run-up to results shows that, in 2017, 61.53% year 13 school leavers in Swansea progressed to university, while 10.95% went into work-based training or other employment. 30.2% of Swansea pupils opted for school after year 11 while 57.7% opted for college after year 11.
Its Destinations of School Leavers 2017 report, which surveyed 56,404 year 11, 12 and 13 school pupils across Wales, showed that in Neath Port Talbot 60.12% year 13 school leavers progresses to university while 8.58% school leavers went into work-based training or other employment. 16.6% of Neath Port Talbot pupils opted for school after year 11 while 67.6% opted for college after year 11.
Across Wales, the data showed that for the second year running, college overtook school as the most popular choice for Year 11 leavers, by 7% (53.5% chose college, 46.5% school).
In 2016 the split was much narrower; 49% (school) versus 51% (college).
In addition, the Welsh data showed that the percentage of the total Year 13 cohort going on to Higher Education (university) after A-levels increased from 62.4% in 2016, to 63.4% in 2017. Of this number, 75.6% males continued to university, and 82.9% females.
The percentage of school leavers across Wales entering the labour market across all three years rose from 8.2% in 2016 to 8.6% in 2017.
Nikki Lawrence, Chief Executive at Careers Wales, said: “It’s a tense time of year for many young people across the country, but our message is not to panic. There are more options than ever for young people and our advisers are on hand to offer bespoke advice to anyone needing support.
“Whether you’re considering going straight into work, are confused about whether to stay on at sixth-form or go to college, are weighing up university options, or simply wondering how best to spend a year out, we should be the first port of call.
“As always, we are constantly seeking new ways to communicate with young people, including live web chat and through our social media platforms – so hope to reach more people than ever this year.”
Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning Eluned Morgan, said: “I wish the best of luck to everyone receiving their results over the next couple of weeks.
“It’s normal to feel slightly overwhelmed when making important decisions about the future, so we want to make sure it’s as easy as possible for young people to find out about all the options available to them during this time.
“The Where Now? campaign helps to ensure young people are fully informed about their options following their exams. Whether you want to become an apprentice and earn while you learn, go on to college or university, start up your own business, become a volunteer, or if you’re ready for the world of work – there are so many options available.”