The report concluded that at least a quarter of 16- to 19-year-olds, around 300,000 to 400,000, are on courses that do not lead to higher education or good jobs.
According to Wolf, high-quality apprenticeships are too rare and are increasingly being offered to older people at the expense of teenagers.
Wolf is now calling for the system to become more "honest" so that young people are not pushed to make decisions that could be damaging to their future prospects.
"The system is complex, expensive and counterproductive," Wolf said. "We have had 20 years of micromanagement and mounting bureaucratic costs. The funding and accountability systems create perverse incentives to steer students into inferior courses.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
