Pupils at risk of dropping out of school are to be encouraged to stay in education by personal mentors, in a scheme launched by the Education Secretary David Blunkett.

Every teenager in England will be able to call upon a personal mentor, who will offer support and advice on anything from difficulties at school to problems at home.

But the shadow education secretary, Theresa May, attacked the scheme as "yet another example of government interference and the nanny state".

"What will parents think when their teenager is told 'if you have a problem, don't speak to your parents, ring the government'?"

However, a headteachers' leader welcomed the initiative - to be callled Connexions - as an important investment in young people's futures.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, applauded the scheme and called for it to be based in schools.

At present one in three students are estimated to leave education before they have reached their academic potential - with 9% of the 13 to 19 age group not in any kind of education, training or employment.

Now ministers want the staying-on rate to be improved by the intervention of an interested adult mentor, who can advise teenagers of the long-term consequences of their decisions.

Social cost

Bad career choices can have "enormous social costs, in unemployment and crime. Wrong choices often lead to wasted lives", said Mr Blunkett - claiming a total cost of �350m a year.

The mentoring scheme, first promised last summer, is intended to provide a new form of careers advice, providing a personal point of access to a range of support services.

"Support will be available according to need - whether it is for gifted and talented pupils, those who just want better careers guidance or the vulnerable and disconnected who, instead of being passed from pillar to post, will now have an adviser with whom the buck stops," said Mr Blunkett.

"For example, one young person might have chosen the wrong A-levels and need guidance about their options.

"Another may have a combination of personal and family problems. The personal adviser will put together a package of specialist support to help them through."

The scheme will begin next year with pilot projects in Coventry, Warwickshire, Devon, Cornwall, Hampshire, Humberside and the London Borough of Lewisham.