Local Policies and Educational Exclusion. The Experience of a City Council´s Socio-Occupational Centres Network in Spain

Context: VET has been specially considered suitable for youngsters who have lived some kind of educational exclusion process and part of the modern VET systems were developed in response to social needs by political or citizenship movements. Spanish education System had got an early school leaving rates higher than European average so it´s a critical issue in terms of educational policy in which a different set of educational, social and political actors are involved. Approach: Based on case study, we focus on quantitative description of the City Council´s Socio-occupational Centres Network (CSL Network) as part of those local programs address to achieve educational and social inclusion, which emerged in response to social needs by synergetic interaction between Local Administration and the commitment of organized citizens. Findings: CSL Network focused on young people who dropped out from schools and set up training alternatives for them, increasing -over time- the pre-existing official training system. On average, every year, 500 students follow different courses offered by CSL Network. Those students belonging to the most socially disadvantaged sectors are overrepresented. Conclusions: Situated in the border between the education system and the non-regulated training system, CSL Network offers a significant way to increase the reception capacity of the Spanish education system and students increase their possibilities to access to job