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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the launching of the Skill Force in Oldham. [95413] Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force initiative is part of Ministry of Defence's work in the wider community as a force for good. The objective is to reduce the number of pupils not in employment, education or training on completion of mandatory education at 16. More immediately, the aim is to reduce truancy, school exclusion and juvenile crime. This is done by using the skills and experience of ex-Service instructors to deliver a vocational alternative for one day a week in school time. The course develops Wider and Key skills through a range of awards and qualifications ranging from St. John's Ambulance young lifesaver to Duke of Edinburgh and Key Skills qualifications. The course is structured around the ASDAN modular vocational award studied at Bronze/Silver level. Pupils gain self- confidence and team skills while working with strong positive role models from the armed forces. As a result of an independent evaluation of two of the more mature schemes carried out last year, it was agreed that DfES would fund a further 12 schemes as part of its Behaviour Improvement Programme. 13 local education authorities were invited to include Skill Force in their range of behaviour improvement measures. I am pleased to say that Oldham was one of the authorities chosen and that the scheme there was formally opened on 9 January 2003. A total of some 54 young people are involved in Skill Force Oldham, the participating schools are, Breeze Hill School, Radclyffe School and South Chadderton School.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

399 c405-6W;399 c403W; 95413

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Disadvantaged Anti-social behaviour Cadets Pilot schemes Pupil exclusions Ministry of Defence Truancy Oldham SkillForce

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk