Lib Dem conference: Call for joint youth worker and teacher training

Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrats' annual conference in Brighton, NYA chief executive Fiona Blacke said stronger links between education and youth work would help support young people that the “education system fails”.

“Youth workers can form a bridge between formal learning and young people,” she said. “A partnership between professional youth workers, voluntary youth workers and teachers has to be the way to go.”

Blacke said progress would be made if professional development institutions created ways of training teachers and youth workers together in order to help them better understand each others’ day-to-day work.

“Workforce is a critical area,” she explained. “Local authorities providing a good youth offer and working together have strong leadership. But collaboration will only come when the heads of youth service and directors of children’s services believe working collectively should happen.”

Blacke added that the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) certificate is unlikely to improve the educational experience of young people who find school a challenge.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers also raised concerns about the new EBacc.?

She questioned whether exams are necessary for all 16-year-olds, given that the participation age is being raised to 17 next year and 18 by 2015. “Why are we looking to examine young people at 16 if we are saying they should be in education or high-quality training to 18?” she said.