SWINDON Council has been picked to lead a national push to tempt college drop-outs back to education and training.

The council is one of 11 local authorities chosen to trial a flagship Government policy to keep young people learning until 18 – rather than 16 as is currently the case.

The Government yesterday announced Swindon Council is to develop a system to pick up those aged 16 and 17 who drop out of college or training and re-engage them in learning.

Other local authorities will be asked to conduct trials focusing on enabling the full participation of all young people in education or training, by carrying out assessments of the barriers stopping them staying on, and looking for solutions.

The trials are backed by £1m of Government investment and will pave the way for the raising of the participation age across England to 17 by 2013 and 18 by 2015.

Each trial will run until spring 2010, when good practice examples will be drawn together.

The results of all the trials will then be used to ensure the policy is expanded successfully across the country.

Ministers stressed the policy was not about raising the school leaving age, but raising the age at which young people complete learning, either in full-time education, in work-based learning, like an apprenticeship, or part-time education or training.

Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Council’s lead member for children services, said: “It is more important than ever that we find ways to engage all young people in education or training which will be vital for their success.

“Working closely with schools and colleges, integrated locality teams and employers, we will ensure that the young people in Swindon are given every chance to succeed.”

Louis Koonjean, the graduate recruitment manager at RWE npower in Swindon, said: “Raising the participation age means all school and college leavers will have the skills, experience and confidence to succeed.

“Being able to recruit from a pool of well-trained and educated young people in the future will bring huge benefits to employers in Swindon, as well as to the UK economy.”

Iain Wright, the minister for 14-19 Reform, said: “The days when young people could leave school at 16 without qualifications and find themselves a rewarding career are long gone. The current economic climate means that the job market is more competitive than ever.”