Children left sidelined at school up to twice as likely to become jobless and not be in education or training when turning 18, study finds
A study has found that children who are sidelined or excluded at school are up to twice as likely to end up out of work, education or training (NEET) by the age of 18. The research highlights a strong link between negative school experiences, such as exclusion or feeling marginalised, and poor long-term outcomes for young people entering adulthood, adding urgency to concerns about Britain's youth jobs crisis.
The findings come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to tackle the rising number of NEETs, though he has stopped short of setting a firm deadline for reducing the figure. As part of this shift, Burnham is moving away from the Blair-era push for school leavers to go to university, signalling a change in approach towards vocational and alternative pathways for young people who struggle within mainstream education.
- Sidelined pupils twice as likely to become NEET by 18, study finds
- Burnham vows to tackle youth jobs crisis, no deadline set
- Government shifts away from Blair's university-for-all school leaver drive