City of York Council's education chiefs are celebrating today after being awarded 14-19 year old pathfinder status by the government.

The DfES grants pathfinder status to education authorities which it believes are excellent at delivering education and skills to 14-19 year olds. The special status allows local authorities to use their experience to help shape national guidelines and to look at new and innovative ways of providing education and skills training to teenagers.

As part of the council's submission to the DfES, education chiefs highlighted proposals to create a new relationship between business and education in York, including inviting businesses to develop their own 'youth policy'. It is hoped that the new status will help to develop a strong partnership between education providers and the business community.

Proposals include: A new curriculum offer, making imaginative use of vocational/specialist GCSEs and introducing Critcal Skills An emphasis, at schoool level, on enterprise and wealth creation Businesses contracted to work in schools with target groups of young people Teacher placements in business to be linked directly to curriculum development

Patrick Scott, director of education and leisure, City of York Council, said: "We are absolutely delighted at becoming a 14 to 19 year old pathfinder. The bid was put together by partners across the city including the local education authority, schools, York College and the council's economic development unit.

"It will help us develop a much wider range of courses for 14-19 year olds, that will prepare them much more succesfully for work with the new businesses and industries in the area."