30,000 adolescents disengaged despite raised participation age, figures show
Laura McCardle
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Almost 30,000 16-year-olds were not in education or training at the end of 2013 despite the government raising the participation age to 17, official figures reveal.
Government data shows that 28,700 16-year-olds were not in education or training at the end of last year despite new legislation introduced in the same year requiring all young people due to leave school in the summer of 2013 to continue studying until the end of this month.
However, the data shows that the proportion of 16-year-olds not in education or training has fallen by 2.5 per cent since the end of 2012 when 44,700 were disengaged.
The figures also show that the proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (Neet) is at its lowest level since 1994. At the end of 2013, 7.6 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds were Neet, compared with 8.4 per cent in 1994.
Broken down, the figures show that more than 1.6m 16- to 18-year-olds were in education or training at the end of 2013, while 133,200 were in employment.
Despite the improvement, Jonathan Rallings, assistant director of policy and research at Barnardo’s, is concerned by the number of disengaged 16-year-olds.
He said: “While we welcome the drop from the previous year, the fact that still so many young people are Neet highlights the government still needs to do more to help prevent young people from slipping out of the system."
Fiona Blacke, chief executive of the National Youth Agency, has welcomed the reductions but she also has concerns about efforts to reduce the number of Neets.
She said: "My concern remains those young people, whatever their age, who continue to be distant from the labour market or disengaged from learning I suspect are also dealing with multiple disadvantages.
"I am not convinced that we have yet put in place the coherent and comprehensive packages of support these young people need to achieve their potential."
However, skills and enterprise minister Matthew Hancock said the data shows that the government’s efforts to reduce the number of young Neets are being successful.
Under government plans introduced in September last year, young people are required to participate in education or training until their 18th birthday.
In May, government data revealed that the proportion of 16- to 25-year-old Neets is at its lowest level since 2005.
On Monday, the Youthforia Youth Employment Commission called for the creation of a dedicated youth employment minister in a bid to improve young people's access to work.