Two Norfolk members of the youth parliament have told councillors about the top five priorities identified by young people in the county.

Eastern Daily Press: Kieren Buxton, member of the youth parliament for Norwich South.Kieren Buxton, member of the youth parliament for Norwich South. (Image: Submitted)

Annie Baldwin and Kieren Buxton said the biggest concern was everyone should be paid the working wage.

However, members of the Children's Services Panel were yesterday most interested in hearing about their thoughts on work experience, which was the second-most important issue mentioned.

Miss Baldwin said that a number of schools no longer offered the traditional one-week of work experience to Year 10 students - those in the first year of their GCSE studies - and when they did, pupils were often given menial tasks to do.

She said: 'There's a real inconsistency between schools. Some of them don't offer it at all. It's something we need to campaign on. It needs to be something that everyone needs to do.'

Mr Buxton suggested there could be a written agreement between employer and employee before work experience starts, so the young person is clear about what they will be expected to do.

The pair said that resits for English and maths GCSEs was another key concern young people in Norfolk had highlighted.

Many schools have ditched the usual entry in November, with the chance to re-take the exam in the summer, since the government said that only a young person's first attempt would count towards league table statistics.

Miss Baldwin said: 'Many now have one shot, and they are re-taking at college.'

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