Help is at hand for young school leavers

August 17, 2017 by Southend Borough Council

All 16 year old school leavers without an offer to continue studying until they are 18 have been offered a place at Southend Adult Community College (subject to interview).

The same offer has also been made to anyone aged 17 or 18 without a place to study or who are not in work or attending any other education or training course.

Southend Adult Community College run a variety of vocational and non-vocational full time courses for 16-18 year olds including uniformed services, childcare, catering, health and social care and customer service as well as more traditional academic subjects.

Cllr James Courtenay, Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, says: “The Council wants to ensure that every young person who is a local Southend-on-Sea resident has been offered the opportunity to continue their education or training.

“Letters from the council and information about Southend Adult Community College are being sent to all young people in the Borough who have not yet had an offer made to them to continue their studies.”

Sue Hasty, Principal of Southend Adult Community College, says: “”We pride ourselves on giving young people all the individual support they need to help them achieve their qualifications and take their first step towards employment. Our learners often say how much they enjoy being in an inclusive College environment where they feel safe and where the teachers care about their individual needs.”

As part of the drive, the council’s connexions team are also organising a ‘clearing’ style event, the day after GCSE results day to offer young people advice and guidance about their options including information for students who didn’t get the results they expected and to offer alternative training or educational opportunities

This will take place on Friday 25 August in Civic 2 (next to the Civic Centre tower block and police station) ground floor from 10am to 4pm.

Southend United Football Club, training providers such as SEETEC, Catch 22 and Life Skills Solutions and representatives from Southend Adult Community College, will also be in attendance to offer support, guidance and information.

For further information on courses available in Southend for 16+ please see our local offer on www.southendinfopoint.org