Connexions strategy

The Connexions programme is currently going through a process of transition and local partnerships are being wound down as children's trusts are established in each local authority area. For more information about this transition visit www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.


Background

The Connexions strategy was launched in 2000 as the latest in a number of Government initiatives targeting disaffected youth. It aimed to address the large numbers of young people leaving school with low-level qualifications, and increase the proportion of 18-year-olds staying in education, by bringing together existing and future policies for young people in a single coherent strategy. Statistics showed that young people in the UK get a worse start than many of their contemporaries elsewhere in Europe, and the situation was becoming worse. In the 1980s, nearly half of UK school leavers went straight into jobs - by the time Connexions was launched it was fewer than one in 10. By working with 13 to 19-year-olds, Connexions sought to bridge the gap between pre and post-16 provision, since things that happen or fail to happen at school are often strong predictors of later problems. Careers advice for 18 to 24-year-olds is covered by the New Deal initiative.

Connexions was largely delivered by existing local authority careers and youth services, as well as schools' and colleges' welfare services, probation officers, social services and voluntary organisations. It had four themes:

1. A flexible curriculum that engages young people and leads to relevant, sought-after qualifications, including key stage 4 opt-out for work-related learning and a 'Graduation Certificate' by age 19
2. High-quality provision in sixth forms, further education and work-based learning
3. Targeted financial support for those in learning, including a discount Youth Card and Education Maintenance Allowances
4. Outreach, information advice, support and guidance, providing a single point of entry to a network of personal advisers

This merging of careers and youth services prompted some accusations, notably from the the Institute of Careers Guidance, that in its attempt to tackle social exclusion among disaffected teenagers, the Government was ignoring the need for effective careers guidance for all young people and adults. The Institute of Careers Guidance argued that Connexions would require a new form of "superhuman" adviser who could tell teenagers about drugs and other welfare issues as well as careers, rather than providing youngsters with support before referring them on to the relevant agencies. The Government was also "drawing a line between guidance for young people, particularly if they are socially excluded, and guidance for people over the age of 19." 

The development of the Connexions strategy for England coincided with the launch of a new national public organisation in Scotland to take responsibility for the 17 careers service companies, adult guidance networks, education business partnerships and local learning partnerships. Careers Scotland expanded beyond advice to young people to become an all-age service, reducing the number of bodies involved from 80 to 22 by April 2002. 

Evidence of impact

In February 2005, figures showed that Connexions partnerships helped cut the number of young people not in education, work or training (NEET) by an average of 14% over two years. According to the figures, 123,000 or 7.7% of 16 to 18-year-olds were not in work, education or training in November 2004. The Government target was 8.1%. This progress was attributed to the time taken to develop the service, and that some of the local partnerships had been working with 16-year-olds since they were 13. However, Connexions faced criticism from headteachers, colleges, business groups and opposition parties for being "patchy". In most parts of England, the service had beaten the Government-set target to reduce the number of disengaged young people by 10% by November 2004. But six out of the 47 partnerships fell short of this figure.

In June 2006, one of the most high-profile elements of the Connexions strategy, the £100 million loyalty card scheme that offered high-street discounts in return for attending school and college, was abandoned. Research had revealed that most pupils were ignoring it.

Introduction of children's trusts

Following the publication of Every Child Matter: Change for Children (2004) and the Youth Matters green paper (2005), Connexions entered a process of transition. Children's trusts are being established in each local authority area and the funding that currently goes directly to each of the 47 Connexions partnerships will go directly to each of the 150 local authority areas by April 2008. Local authorities working under children's trust arrangements will be given responsibility and accountability to plan and commission integrated youth support services.

Archived information on the Connexions strategy is at www.connexions.gov.uk. Details of the Youth Matters green paper and progress on its proposals are at www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/youthmatters.