Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department’s paper, Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential: a plan for improving social mobility through education, published in December 2017, what assessment he has made of the potential role for youth full-time social action in the proposed transition year.

The government wants all young people who are able, to have the opportunity to achieve qualifications at level 3. Some school leavers are not yet ready for that step, and the department is developing a high quality offer for all young people including a transition offer for those who have the potential to study for a T level but who are not yet ready to do so.

The transition offer will be a flexible programme with a strong focus on mathematics and English and all suggestions are welcome for what could be included in the programme. The department has recently sought views through the public consultation on the implementation of T levels, including what other support should be considered as part of the programme, more details will be published in the spring.