Following concerns about the number of young people in education or training after the age of 16, the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Committee undertook an inquiry into Routes into post-16 education and training. The inquiry was wide ranging and focused on:
- The quality and nature of information given to learners about the full range of post-16 options;
- How effective careers support is at compulsory school age;
- Changes to learner’s choices at 18;
- Availability of Welsh-medium provision;
- Barriers to accessing education and training and support available;
- Destinations data; and
- The Welsh Government’s role in supporting participation in tertiary education.
This article is not an exhaustive account of the key issues raised within the inquiry; it outlines three themes based around the recommendations in the Committee’s report. These are: careers advice and guidance; junior apprenticeships; and the challenges facing tertiary education.
Careers advice and guidance
The Committee heard concerns about the availability and quality of careers advice and guidance for learners throughout their educational journey.
The Welsh Government’s Curriculum for Wales includes “Careers and work-related experiences” as a cross-cutting theme for learners aged 3 – 16. However, findings from the Senedd’s Citizen Engagement Team survey showed that 98 of the 311 respondents (33%) to the survey first discussed post-16 options when they were in year 10 and 86 of respondents (29%) did so in year 11.
The Committee frequently heard of the inconsistency of the quality of schools’ careers advice across Wales. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said advice was “patchy” but that there is “excellent practice” as well. However, stakeholders’ views were more critical about the quality of advice learners received about vocational education and training. Estyn (education and training inspectorate) stated that too many learners lack awareness of vocational and work-based learning opportunities.
The competition between sixth forms and further education (FE) colleges was raised by stakeholders. This largely related to the concern that the funding model was influencing schools with sixth forms to encourage their learners to stay on post-16 so they could keep the funding linked to with the learner. As opposed to providing the learners with all the information on other post-16 options.
The Committee’s report recommended that the Welsh Government commission Estyn to review Careers Wales (careers advice service). The review would see whether its offer meets the needs of all learners and what changes could be made to improve the service. The Welsh Government rejected this recommendation. It said that Estyn had completed a review in 2022 and that Careers Wales was evaluating its own service so an Estyn review would duplicate ongoing work.
Junior Apprenticeships
The Committee heard positive comments on the Welsh Government’s Junior Apprenticeships programme which offers pre-16 learners work-related education, alongside a Level 2 course - equivalent to four or five GCSEs.
The programme is aimed at learners who are struggling to engage with mainstream school and are at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Medr (responsible for funding and regulating the tertiary education sector in Wales) told the Committee that Wales “has a really persistent NEET figure […] particularly for our 16-18 year olds” which they called “unacceptable”.
The Committee recommended that the Junior Apprenticeship programme should be expanded to learners across Wales who are at risk of disengaging with their education. The Welsh Government accepted this recommendation saying it is working with Medr and FE institutions to seek out opportunities to expand the programme. However, it noted that nationwide expansion would require further funding for which there is currently no allocation.
At the time of inquiry, Junior Apprenticeships were available at five colleges. The programme has since been expanded to include two further colleges.
Funding challenges for tertiary education providers
As mentioned previously, the competition between sixth forms and FE colleges is partly seen to stem from financial challenges. The Committee’s report states that “financial pressures are making it difficult for some school sixth forms to remain viable”. Some stakeholders told the Committee of the importance of sixth forms, in particular for learners in rural areas where it may be their only practical option or for those wanting to continue learning through the medium of Welsh.
FE colleges are also facing funding challenges, though partly relating to the increased number of people wanting to go to colleges in recent years . While the Welsh Government’s Final Budget 2026-27 has allocated £5 million to support the increase in learners in FE colleges, ColegauCymru state this is not enough to address the financial shortfall the sector faces.
Financial challenges facing the higher education sector has been headline news recently. A number of Welsh universities announced voluntary redundancy schemes as well as proposed changes to teaching some subjects and closing campuses. The Committee called for an update from the Welsh Government on these f pressures. The Welsh Government were clear that the UK Government’s proposed international student levy would not apply to Wales but that it would be increased student tuition fees in the next academic year.
The future of tertiary education in Wales
On 21 January 2026, the Minister for Further and Higher Education published the ‘Future of tertiary education in Wales’ paper. The paper “sets the current evidence base of the key structural challenges” facing the sector. The Minister also launched a call for submissions to “strengthen that evidence”. The Minister sets out what she believes to be the five key challenges for tertiary education, these are:
- participation and equality of opportunity;
- demographic change and lifelong learning;
- competition and collaboration;
- financial sustainability; and
- delivering for the economy.
The paper makes a number of references to the Committee’s inquiry into Routes into post-16 education and training.
On Wednesday 4 February, the Senedd will be debating the Committee’s report and the wide range of important issues that affect the options learners have and the choices they eventually make.
Article by Lucy Yarham and Thomas Morris, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
