Quarterly figures from the Department for Education show the proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds classified as Neet was nine per cent in the third quarter of 2017, compared with 8.7 per cent for the same period in 2016.
The 0.3 percentage point rise follows a similar increase in the 16- to 18-year-old Neet rate in the second quarter of 2017.
In contrast to the rise in 16- to 18-year-olds who are Neet, the overall youth Neet rate remained static, with the proportion of 19- to 24-year-olds classified as Neet falling to 15.2 per cent in July to September 2017, compared with 16.2 per cent a year earlier.
Sonia Blandford, chief executive of education charity Achievement for All, said educational reform is needed to bring Neet levels down.
"The lack of change in the Neet figures is unsurprising when the curriculum for 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds is focused on everyone getting the same grade in English and maths," she said.
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