Out of work and out of education ...

The OECD report, Education at a Glance, makes depressing reading for all those involved with young people - and that means all of us. Out of 32 nations, the UK had the ninth highest figures for NEET. And we ranked 26th for young people remaining in education up to the age of 19. In 2009, the most recent year for which there is comparative data, the NEET rate was just about 10%.

And that was 2009; for 2010 it will be even worse. We know that youth unemployment is increasing rapidly, and the ending of EMAs is having a direct effect on school and college post-16 recruitment, even though this is partly offset by bursaries. But because bursaries are essentially local, we have lost all the powerful national information to young people about EMAs. And the Connexions Service has also been slashed, removing important sources of unbiased information to young people.