Professor Alan Smithers: “Compulsion at 16 will lead to alienation and disaffection”

A leading education specialist has attacked Government proposals to raise the participation age to 18.  In an essay ‘Why I Am Against Raising the Participation Age’, Professor Alan Smithers, Director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, argues that compulsion at 16 comes far too late, and the policy “will lead to further alienation and disaffection.” 

Smithers’ essay features in Staying the Course: Changes to the Participation Age and Qualifications,  The collection, edited by Conor Ryan (former advisor to Tony Blair and David Blunkett), includes a foreword by Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. published today by the Social Market Foundation.

Professor Smither’s attack contrasts sharply with an essay by former government advisor Sir Michael Barber, who makes the case for raising the participation age.  Barber argues that education to age18 is essential for a first class education system.  He presents a road-map for how the change should be implemented, and argues that the rise is a logical progression from all the education reforms that have taken place over the past century: “Its time to implement the 1918 Education Act!”

Elsewhere in the collection:

  • Conor Ryan considers what else needs to change if such a programme were to go ahead.  He concludes that compulsion and fines are unlikely to be productive, and that government should make a real effort to ensure that the qualifications mix gives young people a real choice. 
  • Miles Templeman describes business wants from apprenticeships.
  • Mike Tomlinson on the case for a unified diploma.
  • Karen Price on how the IT sector helped to shape diplomas. 
  • Professor Alison Wolf critiques our “dysfunctional” education system, and suggests Government learn lessons from the popularity of professional qualifications.

Professor Smithers will today present his arguments against raising the participation age in the debate at the House of Commons to launch the publication.  He will be joined by David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Universities, Innovation and Skills.  Arguing for a rise in the participation age will be Barry Sheerman MP, Chairman, Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, and Ann Rossiter, Director of the Social Market Foundation.

Notes to editors

  • For further information, advance copies of Staying the Course or to arrange interviews contact Robert Sharp rsharp@smf.co.uk 020 7227 4411.
  • Staying the Course: Changes to the Participation Age and Qualifications edited by Conor Ryan, is published by the Social Market Foundation.
  • The publication will be launched on Thursday 27th March at a lunchtime debate in House of Commons Committee Room 11.  The debate will run from 12:45pm to 2pm.
  • The book is published with the kind support of the Association of Accounting Technicians. www.aat.org.uk
  • The Social Market Foundation is a leading UK think tank, developing innovative ideas across a broad range of economic and social policy. It champions policy ideas which marry markets with social justice and takes a pro-market rather than free-market approach. www.smf.co.uk