Shadow Education Minister, Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow celebrated with local students at Tower Hamlets College as they received their A level results. 

The college achieved a 92% pass-rate overall and saw increases in the proportion of students gaining passes at A*, A and B level – bucking the downward trend seen nationally for numbers of young people achieving top results.

Labour has pledged to improve the life-chances of young people in further education through:

• Introducing a new National Baccalaureate to create parity of esteem between vocational and academic education;
• Reforming independent careers advice and guidance to support young people in making the best choices at every stage of their time at schools, colleges and beyond;
• Promising a Youth Jobs Guarantee to young people who have been out of work for 12 months, ensuring they receive a job
• Creating technical degrees at university to enable young people with a wide variety of talents to achieve high-level qualifications.

After speaking to students, Rushanara said:

“I am delighted that so many of our young people have achieved such excellent exam results this year and congratulate them on their hard work. I wish them every success in what they go onto to do next in order to realise their ambitions." 

“Under this Government, however, young people are telling us that they are not getting the right advice and guidance at these important moments in their education to make well-informed decisions. Labour will ensure that each young person is supported to make the right choices for themselves – whether that choice is to go on to university, start an apprenticeship or explore other forms of vocational education. That means creating valuable opportunities for work experience as well as ensuring each young person receives independent careers advice and guidance to make the most of their talents."