Grass roots in southampton: A Southampton initiative in testing candidates for apprenticeship

Selection of young people for apprenticeship in the Southampton area is about to experience a major change in the course of a pilot scheme for organising ability‐testing on a common basis. If the scheme is a success, it will be an example of industry‐school cooperation achieving discernible benefits. The initiative has been entirely Southampton's, only some support and expertise being provided from outside the area. Over the last two years, discussion among employers, ITBs and schools has led to the trial, about to take place, of a system in which candidates for apprenticeship take only one set of tests. The scores from the tests will be made available to employers to which the candidate has applied. Such employers will have to be qualified test users. A further part of the scheme is a new form for obtaining references from candidates' schools.