Department for Education
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Highest proportion of young people in education or training

More than 90% of 16- and 17-year-olds were actively participating in education, employment or training at the end of December

The local authority figures show that 90.2% of 16- and 17-year-olds were in education or training at the end of December 2014 - a rise of 0.4%. This is equivalent to around 4,000 people compared to the same period in 2013. This is up 2.3 percentage points since 2012.

Yesterday’s (12 March 2015) figures support data published last month showing the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) from October to December had reached its lowest level since 2007.

More than half of local authorities saw the number of 16- and 17-year-olds in education or training rise, and Skills Minister Nick Boles has written to the 9 poorest performing areas asking them to improve.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said Yesterday:

As part of our long-term economic plan we are ensuring young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Only last month we saw evidence of this with figures showing a return to NEET levels not seen since before the economic crisis, and today’s statistics provide further cause for optimism.

We are determined this improvement continues, which is why I have written to local authorities where performance is not of a sufficiently high standard and asked them to take action to ensure even more pupils receive the education and training they need to succeed in modern Britain.

Notes to editors

  1. The local authority statistics for 16- and 17-year-olds participating in education or training at the end of December 2014.
  2. Yesterday’s figures are based solely on local authority data, whereas last month’s quarterly NEETs figures were based on data from the Labour Force Survey.

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