YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PILOT PROGRAMME

That this House recognises the important contribution that apprenticeships make to the economy, future growth and social mobility; notes the success of the Youth Apprenticeship pilot programme which successfully allowed motivated 14 to 16 year old pupils to pursue industry-specific applied learning programmes for one or two days a week over two years alongside the National Curriculum, as well as 50 days work experience; further notes that 9,400 young people enrolled on the scheme in September 2010; and deeply regrets, therefore, the Government's decision to close entry to new entrants from September 2011and with so far no response to Professor Wolf's Review of Vocational Education, which proposes a framework to deliver high quality, age appropriate, 14 to 19 vocational education within current budgets.