The study of Travellers, carried out by student Paul Harman, found that the number of young people transferring from primary schools to secondary schools dropped radically in the transition. Only one in five Traveller children moved on to secondary school, despite a 95 per cent attendance at primary level.
"All children should be given the opportunity for education, but it needs to be made suitable for them," said Harman. "Traveller families tend to value the need for reading and writing skills but after the age of 11 they expect their children to start working with the family business. Having more vocational courses for young people in schools would help them see the benefit, as well as a liaison officer based in schools who understands their culture."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here