Young people and education

The Youth Select Committee has published its report on the Curriculum and Young People, which calls for the government to publish a long term strategy for the promotion of PSHE education.

The report states that this strategy should include milestones and targets for the improvement of PSHE education in schools and that government should review and update guidance on sex and relationships education to ensure that it is appropriate for today's young people.

For further information and to download this report visit http://byc.org.uk/news/life-skills-education-in-schools-falls-well-short-of-its-full-potential,-concludes-youth-select-committee.aspx.

Teach First and Pearson have published My Education, a report drawing together the views of more than 8,000 young people across the UK, giving an insight into young people's views on their education.

The report found that workplace skills topped the list of skills that students wish to acquire; 92 percent agreed that it is important to learn communication skills; and 82 percent wanted to experience lessons that are linked to the workplace.

For further information visit www.teachfirst.org.uk/news/young-people-share-their-vision-education-my-education-report.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People has published Financial Education for Vulnerable Young People.

The report calls for more to be done to support the financial education of vulnerable under-25s, including  statutory bodies training their staff to be able to help support and signpost them to manage their money and local authorities developing local strategies to improve provision and review the offer of financial education specifically for those in or leaving care.

For further information visit www.pfeg.org/about-us/news/mps-call-action-support-financial-education-vulnerable-young-people.

The National Youth Agency has published the final report for the National Youth Agency Commission into the Role of Youth Work in Formal Education.

The report examined the extent, methods and benefits of schools' engagement with youth workers and found that good youth work in schools can help improve attendance and behaviour, promote achievement and improve home and community links.

It recommends national government review the youth sector workforce and local authorities look at distinct funding streams for youth work and calls for schools to recognise the general value and impact of youth work alongside formal education and for youth work to be recognised by Ofsted.

For further information visit www.nya.org.uk/news/youth-work-in-schools-helps-attainment.

The European Commission has published the Education and Training Monitor 2013, which examines progress against Europe 2020 targets for education in the European Union member states.

For further information visit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1006_en.htm.

A UK document is also available to download at http://ec.europa.eu/education/documents/eatm/monitor2013-uk_en.pdf.