Beith: Government must think long and hard about rural transport for 16+ students in raising school leaving age

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 18th Dec 2007

Berwick MP Alan Beith has asked the Secretary of State how the Education and Skills Bill will take account of the difficulties faced by students in rural areas.

The Education and Skills Bill, which will have its second reading in mid January 2008, effectively raises the school leaving age to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015. Currently 11% of young people aged 16-18 are currently not in education or training (NEET), although research suggests that only 1% of these people are NEET throughout this whole period. Under the Government's proposals, parents will face a legal duty to co-operate with plans to make education and training compulsory until the age of 18. Young people, who also fail to comply, can face spot fines or community service.

Alan Beith asked the Minister:

"How will young people in the Berwick area be compelled to attend courses when the nearest further education college is 50 miles away, when there is only one high school, and when those who stay on at school beyond 16 are charged £360 a year for transport by the Labour council?"

Ed Balls MP, Labour's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, replied:

"The important thing to ensure is that schools and colleges in that area have the support that they need. We will need to look at transport in rural areas, as I have said in past discussions on this issue, to make sure that when we say that there is an opportunity for every young person, those opportunities exist and are real. There will be an obligation on local government to make sure that the opportunities are real and can be taken advantage of. The right hon. Gentleman is right: we will need to look at transport as part of those discussions."

Speaking after the exchange in the House of Commons, Mr Beith said:

"I hope the Secretary of State will take these issues seriously in planning better educational opportunities for the young people in Berwick and the surrounding area. I will keep campaigning to make sure our rural areas get the educational services we deserve."