The number of 16 to 17-year-old girls not in education, employment or training (Neet) has risen by 6,000 in the last three months of last year compared to the same period in 2013.
Figures for the period from October to December were released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that 59,000 16 to 17-year-olds in the UK were considered to be Neet.
It was down 7,000 from the same period in 2013.
The number of 16 to 17-year-old boys has dropped by 13,000 – from 39,000 (5.1 per cent) in October to December 2013 to 26,000 (3.4 per cent) in the same period last year.
However the numbers for girls were not as encouraging, rising from 27,000 (3.7 per cent) to 33,000 (4.5 per cent).
In total, 963,000 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK were considered to be Neet.
The figure was 8 per cent down on the 1,041,000 Neets recorded for October to December 2013. However, the 2014 figure represented a 1 per cent increase on the 954,000 Neets recorded the previous three months.
The next ONS Neet statistics are due to be released on May 21.
I think that all government parties should make a plan to engage young people aged 16-18 that drop out of school or college. It’s all very well and good saying that they must be in full-time education, but what happens to them when they do not attend?
Other recently released statistics show that there are less NEETs now than in 2010 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/number-of-young-people-neet-falls-across-the-board). Most of these young are aged 16-18 and this is undoubtedly due to the recent change in law requiring all young people to stay in full-time education, be in an apprenticeship or traineeship or in part-time education along with employment/volunteer work.
I would like to see more thought and discussion around school and college drop outs. More discussion around alternative education and re-engagement programmes. More discussion around intervention programmes targeting those at risk of becoming NEET. More discussion around tracking of “NEETs” and the “known unknowns”.
And for the record, Traineeships and Apprenticeships are not solutions for young people that are disengaged and struggle to commit to school or college.