Is this what all students think of Nick Clegg? Pupil gives Clegg middle finger salute

LIB Dem leader Nick Clegg clearly has a long way to go to win back the student vote, if this pupil's apparent verdict on the Deputy Prime Minister is anything to go by.

Mr Clegg was addressing more than 500 students at Southfields Academy in south west London this morning when the student seemed to give him a surreptitious middle-finger salute.

The Lib Dem leader famously abandoned his general election pledge to vote against any increase in university tuition fees when he entered into a coalition with the Tories in 2010, a move which was seen as  a betrayal by many students.

Today, he outlined new proposals to help young people into the workplace as he warned that for many teenagers, careers advice is still a "tick box exercise squeezed into a lunchtime break".

The measures include a Ucas-style system for vocational qualifications, tougher requirements on schools to offer decent careers guidance to pupils and access to Jobcentres from age 16.

Mr Clegg said: "For a lot of the young people I meet, careers guidance currently feels like a tick box exercise squeezed into lunchtime break with a busy teacher, who no doubt already has a lot on their plate.

"So, we are issuing new guidance for schools, in the next few weeks, that will set out just what good careers advice should look like. And not take-it-or-leave-it guidance. To make sure it's being followed, Ofsted will be looking more closely at the quality of careers advice and support available when they inspect schools."

One of the "most important" changes will be a new responsibility on schools to develop links with local employers, he added.

Mr Clegg announced plans to create a Ucas-style system for those young people who do not want to study for a degree.

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At 16, when a lot of you are having to choose whether you go to college, do an apprenticeship or train for a particular trade or occupation, we think it's only right that you get the same guidance and support as those going to university."

Teenagers will be able to apply for their preferred course through the site, and local councils will be responsible for making sure it carries up to date information.

"Ultimately, I want to see this process become a rite of passage for every 16-year-old: helping you to make an active choice about your future and set out a clear plan for the road ahead," Mr Clegg said.

He also announced that in future, young people will be able to gain help at Jobcentres from age 16, with around 3,000 16 and 17-year-olds taking part in pilot projects.