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Primary member
X
Francis, Hywel
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
Publisher
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme.
Asked by
Hywel Francis
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 May 2002
For answer on
10 June 2002
Answered on
10 June 2002
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the pilot Skill Force scheme. [59196]
Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force scheme forms part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to our wider Government social exclusion
policies. The initiative aims to prevent young people from feeling long-term disaffection with school and society. It is currently
being piloted in 11 ares and in 47 schools in England and Scotland. Discussions are currently being held with a view to extending
the pilot to Wales.
A feature of the scheme is the use of recently retired service personnel as instructors for selected children in years 10 and 11 in
a number of state secondary schools; and this has proved very effective. Skill Force emphasises instruction in vocational subjects
with the aim of acquiring the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network modular vocational award at bronze/silver level.
Participants also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; St. John's Ambulance Young Life Saver's award and the OCR First
Certificate in Preparation for Employment. The Skill Force scheme is funded by MOD, Department for Education and Skills (DfES), HM
Treasury's Invest to Save Budget and local partners.
An integral part of the Skill Force pilot scheme has been rigorous and independent evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau.
The most recent evaluation report, based on the two original schemes that started in September 2000 in Newcastle and Norfolk, has
been completed. The report has shown that Skill Force has helped to maintain attendance rates of over 90 per cent. among children
who would otherwise have been expected to display sharply declining attendance, sometimes leading to exclusion, through years 10 and
11. Exclusions from these schools have been reduced by 72 per cent. compared with those predicted by the head teachers at the start
of the scheme.
The Skill Force initiative has been supported by DfES from the outset, with the Invest to Save Budget bid being made jointly by the
MOD, Home Office and DfES. In response to the Government's Street Crime Initiative, Skill Force is one of the schemes 11 local
education authorities have been invited to consider to help them to deliver part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme. A
decision from the London education authorities on whether they wish to use Skill Force is expected shortly.
Subjects
Disadvantaged; Armed forces; Schools; Training; SkillForce
Date
10 June 2002
Reference
59196; 386 c740-1W
House
House of Commons