In September, we will see the final step in the reforms to the participation age, with 18-year-olds being required to stay in education and training for the first time. History shows that if such a change is to be successful, it will require more than just another year of enforced attendance for 18-year-olds. Really careful, systemic thought about how further education can make young people's pathways and futures more meaningful is needed.
A positive story in 2014 has been the reduction in the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet). This is a significant achievement, particularly as the Neet rate for 16- to 18-year-olds fell to 10.6 per cent, the lowest figure since comparable data was available in 2000. At a local level, Leeds has put a number of initiatives in place to try to become the first Neet-free city. This should be a vision that is adopted more widely, and is one over which local areas should have more control over if the desire for increased devolution to cities becomes a reality.
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