We will all be taking a decision about whether to go on after we have read the whole

“We will all be taking a decision about whether to go on after we have read the whole script of Mr Brown’s remarks,” he said “I certainly think they are starting to listen to us. Campaigners had threatened to stage protests in major cities this weekend and in the run-up to next week’s European and London elections.But they indicated that they may be prepared to cancel the “go slow” protests and said Mr Brown’s promise of a review showed they were being “listened to”. “On the one hand they are encouraging more and more school leavers to go off to do full-time academic study at university, while at the same time calling for more teenagers to start apprenticeships. This makes it difficult for schools to give advice.”It’s indisputable, however, that when it works, an apprenticeship can be a satisfying and rewarding way for a teenager to make the transition into the world of work, while at the same time acquiring new skills and qualifications.Luke Albutt, who is 18, is a year and a half into a retailing apprenticeship with Tesco in Solihull.

After getting 12 GCSEs, he started an IT course at a local college, but decided work-based training was more suitable. Now he’s part of a team preparing all price labelling and other information in a busy urban supermarket He’s enthusiastic about the benefits. “I’m getting paid and it’s much better to get real experience in a job and learn at the same time,” he explains. “In the future, I’d like to climb the ladder and go into management.”Amy Whelan, from Leicester, started an advanced apprenticeship in communication with BT Wholesale in September 2002. She’d joined BT after leaving school with 10 GCSEs and one AS-level. Now 20, she works in a team using computers to plan cabling and ducting, a job that includes doing site surveys.”I thought an apprenticeship offered better prospects than full-time education.

I know I can still get good qualifications, and I prefer to work and get some training at the same time,” she says.Among the aims of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the Government agency charged with driving through these reforms, is to turn each apprenticeship into an accredited qualification in its own right, and to allow young people to move jobs and carry with them the elements of the apprenticeship that they’ve already accomplished. The hope is that this will reduce the drop-out rate.The LSC’s director of work-based learning, Stephen Gardner, is optimistic of achieving a substantial increase in employer participation, but recognises there’s still a selling job to be done in schools.”Building the reputation and stressing the importance of jobs based on technician-type skills has been overlooked. With this new push on apprenticeships, we are trying to redress that balance.”THE NEW SYSTEM* Young apprenticeships For 14-16 year olds Pilot scheme for 1,000 students starts in September A two-year programme run in parallel with GCSEs. Up to two days a week at a workplace, the rest at school.* Pre-apprenticeships Also known as Entry to Employment (E2E) For over-16s disengaged with formal education. Designed to bring them back into learning habits ready for work, college or a “proper” apprenticeship.* Apprenticeships For 16- to 24-year-olds. A re-naming of the Foundation Modern Apprenticeships to take students to NVQ level two.* Advanced apprenticeships: For 16- to 24-year-olds. A re-naming of the Advanced Modern Apprenticeships, this takes students to NVQ level three, and includes work that can lead to degree-level study.* Apprenticeships for adults: For the over-24s.