Why a gap year is great for your teenager's CV

With the job market still tight and places at university at more of a premium than ever, a gap year could well be the ideal move for your teenager

The good news is that those in the know believe the UK is slowly but surely emerging from its economic recession, which is obviously great news for the long-term career prospects of your teenager.

Unfortunately, the short-term diagnosis doesn't look as rosy; a 12 per cent increase in the number of university applicants this year mean that up to 200,000 youngsters may be denied the chance to enter higher education.

With the job market still a little tight, many of these school-leavers are expected to consider taking gap years after finishing their A Levels in order to boost their UCAS applications before applying to start university in 2011.

Parents recoiling in horror at the prospect of their absent-minded offspring shuffling round the world with a backpack full of dreams can stand easy: gap years have come a long way.

Refreshed and ready to learn

A structured, properly organised gap year can mean students arriving at university refreshed and focused, and research shows they are much more likely to complete their chosen course than drop out halfway through.

Some may take time to re-adjust to academic life but former 'gappers' are generally more responsible and socially conscious, which allows them to take a mature outlook on their studies and make a greater contribution to their course.