Education and Skills
Education
Education achievement in south London is generally very high particularly in Bromley, Sutton, Richmond and Kingston. In Merton, Croydon and Wandsworth the majority of schools achieve well above the England average but within these boroughs there are schools where the level of achievement is significantly below the average for England and their particular LEA.
South London has the highest percentage of young people in further education, employment or training in the London region. Education deprivation and low levels of economic activity are part of a pattern of unemployment and deprivation, which although low by London standards, has a particular and growing spatial dimension with poorer areas mainly concentrated to the north of the A232 along with the scattered post-war housing estates of Roundshaw, New Addington, the Crays and Roehampton. The London South Competitiveness Audit (2001) also identified a sub-regional ‘hotspot’ of educational non attainment around the Merton/Sutton/Croydon borders.
Although south London has the second highest graduate presence in London the London South LSC identifies that one in ten of the local workforce have no qualifications; 20% have low levels of literacy; and nearly one third are inadequately qualified which puts these groups at risk of future unemployment. In addition, south London is dominated by small firms and micro businesses that historically do not, will not or cannot afford the time or money for staff training and development.
Skills
South London has a resident population of high level skills and the dominance of employment in knowledge occupations (albeit a high percentage work outside the sub-region). However, there is a shortage of people qualified to NVQ Level 3 and able to take up the job vacancies at skilled technician level within the sub-region. This has important implications for the south London local labour market and earning potential. South London needs more people with level 3 qualifications, but also better careers and better paid jobs to retain the qualified residents in south London jobs.
This is also an issue for graduate retention in the sub-region. Progression to higher education is improving, supported by the ‘Aim Higher’ programme. However, better links need to be made between career opportunities inform graduates of the employment opportunities in south London.
There are resources and partnerships committed to addressing the disparities in education, skills and employment needs of the residents in south London. For example, Connexions South London is a multi agency partnership that aims to help raise participation and achievement levels for young people. It supports a range of projects to engage ‘disaffected’ young people not in education, employment or training.
The Learning and Skills Council targets additional support to neighbourhoods that consistently demonstrate lower than average rates of participation in learning. Included in the LSC priorities are measures to ensure that all young people (14-19) have access to high quality and relevant learning opportunities; to make learning demand led to better meet the needs of employers, young people and adults; and to strengthen the role of the LSC in economic development so that individuals have the skills needed to help them into jobs.
Job Centre Plus provides employment and training (including language training) programmes for the unemployed and business support agencies support enterprise for young people and adults. However, it is likely that each area needs a specific and relevant action plan, reflecting the particular circumstances and a need for multi-agency approach to tackling the problems.
Current updates
RSS
