Barham et al 2000
Citation Text:
Barham, L., Hughes, D., and Morgan, S. (2000) New Start - Paving the way for the Learning Gateway: Final evaluation of the personal adviser pilot projects. London: DfEE.Editorial Comment:
Focus of Study
To identify good practice from New Start pilots where Personal Advisers were working with 'at risk' young people aged 16-17 years.
Six out of the seven pilot areas were studied. Data were gathered using questionnaires sent to project managers and to 18 New Start Personal Advisers, and from discussions with managers, advisers, staff from other relevant agencies and some of the young people on New Start.
Key findings
Research found that 63% of the 240 young people who had left New Start achieved a 'positive' destination, whilst 37% dropped out. Of those who had achieved positive outcomes 34% entered full-time or part-time education and 57% entered training or a job with training.
Personal advisers felt that clients had progressed in a range of different ways; over 30% of clients were thought to have made significant progress in terms of esteem and self-confidence.
Additional comments
New Start involved intensive work with 'hard to help' young people. This level of guidance and support is not typical of IAG provision, neither is this a typical client group. It is perhaps inappropriate to compare findings from this study with others where client characteristics and needs, and guidance provision are significantly different.