Speakers and Content

Conference Chair
Dr Ian Finlay
Research Fellow in the Department of Education at the University of Oxford

Welcome and Opening Remarks on Preventative Measures that schools can take
Young people in the problematic NEETs category do not suddenly disengage at 16. For most of them, their disenchantment with, and disengagement from education started much earlier in secondary or even in primary school. Many schools recognise this and have put into place measures that have been successful in lighting the fire of enthusiasm for learning in young people at risk of joining the NEET category. In this brief presentation I will summarise recent research that provides both case studies of what primary and secondary schools are doing to engage young people at risk of disengaging and also provides a sociological framework for understanding why these measures have a good chance of being successful.

Opening Keynote
Oliver Newton
NEET and Narrowing the Gaps Policy Manager
Department for Education (DfE)

Opening Keynote Presentation on the progress of NEET Policy
This session will provide delegates with the latest data on young people's participation and the characteristics of young people NEET. It will provide an update on relevant policy areas including post-16 participation, Apprenticeships, vocational education and National Citizen Service. It will also look at the link with support for young people who are NEET at age 18+ including the Government's Skills Strategy and the development of the Work Programme

Simon Paine
Regional Enterprise Manager, Business Link South East.

From April 2011, Chief Executive of The New Enterprise Foundation.

Engage, Excite and Accelerate Young People by Building Self Efficacy
This presentation will examine the importance of combining effective social marketing techniques with a client-centred coaching model, to engage, excite and accelerate young people by building self efficacy.  Simon will present case study examples of interventions with NEET and NEET-risk young people in disadvantaged areas of the South coast, and will provide an insight into how research and established good practice in the fields of psychology, community engagement and enterprise development can be combined to make a significant impact on the ability of NEET young people to create and take opportunity.

Gary Stott
Deputy Chair
The CREATE Foundation CiC

Simon Shaw
Strategy Director
Elmfield Training

Creating networks that work – partnership and success in employment and training
In this plenary Gary Stott (CREATE) and Simon Shaw (Elmfield Training) will share their experience of developing innovative employment and training programmes for some of the most disadvantaged and hard to reach groups in society. Through a network of social enterprise and corporate training partnerships CREATE and Elmfield have secured commitments from major UK employers to supply staff from those groups traditionally considered furthest from the workplace. Combining the skills of one of the UK largest providers of training and apprenticeships and the skills of one of David Cameron’s Big Society award winners the plenary will show how cross sectoral partnerships can deliver the kind of social impact that other models have found illusive.

Diana Choulerton

Principal Adviser 14-19,
School Improvement Service,
London Borough of Ealing

Increasing Participation - Lessons from Raising the participation age trial

Local Authority Perspective covering;

Brief overview of the RPA trial in Ealing.

Developing an LA at risk of NEET indicator - purpose, approach, making best use of the data.

Getting the views of students, parents and carers.

Implications for LAs, 14-19 Partnerships, schools and learners - key challenges and possible ways forward.