Young People on the Youth Training Scheme in Further Education: a survey of the first year

Abstract

A survey of 954 trainees on YTS courses wholly or partly provided by further education colleges in 1983/84 is reported. An assumption behind some of MSC's thinking is that YTS will be like YOP, catering for young people who would never have gone near FE in the past. The results show that this is not the case for a significant proportion of YTS entrants, and that YTS is a streamed provision. Trainees entered YTS regarding it as the next best thing to a job, reported enjoyment and learning from work experience more than from college and valued practical training sessions in college more than other college offerings. They feel the scheme to be quite successful and are glad that it is different from school. Trainees on college based special needs courses have a significantly different perspective on YTS from trainees on employer based courses. It is pointed out that YTS for this group should be regarded as a form of social support and not solely as a training programme.