What is NEET?
NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training. It is a measure used nationally to identify how many young people are not engaged in learning or work after the end of compulsory schooling. The official measure most commonly referred to is the number of young people age 16-18 who are NEET, other measures are taken of youth unemployment for 18-24 year olds.
The NEET cohort is a diverse group of young people who are NEET for different reasons. The NEET cohort is not a static, homogenous group. Some young people will only be NEET for a short period of time whilst others remain out of learning or work for a longer time. Some young people will move in and out of learning / work numerous times between age 16 and age 18. Young people who experience multiple barriers to engaging in learning / work are likely to be NEET for a longer period of time, and need more support.
There are some groups that have been identified as more likely to become NEET than the general population:
• Teenage parents;
• Young offenders;
• Looked after young people / Care leavers;
• Young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities;
• Young carers;
• Young people living in deprived areas;
• Young people with low levels of attendance during compulsory education;
• Young people who are homeless and those living independently
The key underlying factors that lead to longer, or more frequent, periods of NEET are:
• low aspiration;
• lack of motivation to engage in learning or work;
• low self esteem and a lack of belief in their own ability to succeed.
Download - NEET Action Plan 2011
Why NEET Matters
Reducing the number of young people NEET is a priority for Leeds, identified in the Children and Young People’s Plan. Young people NEET between age 16 and18 have poorer life chances than their peers and are more likely to be a long-term cost to the public purse. Young men who were NEET are three times more likely to suffer from depression, and five times more likely to have a criminal record, than their peers. National research undertaken for the Audit Commission by The University of York demonstrates the long term cost of rising levels young people between the ages of 16 and 18 who are NEET. The lowest estimate of the cost to the public finances across the lifespan of young people in this category is nearly £12 billion. Estimated lifetime losses to the economy and to individuals and their families total £22 billion.
It is our vision that all young people in Leeds, aged 13-19 (up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD)) are able to make positive choices about their future and are given the support they need to achieve the five outcomes of Every Child Matters, particularly Economic Well Being. The vision is that all young people will have the skills and support they need to engage in learning, in order to build better futures.
The Raising of the Participation Age means that young people will remain in education or training until age 17 by 2013 and until age 18 by 2015. Planning to reduce the number of young people NEET will, therefore, concentrate on increasing the number of young people in education or training by making sure the right learning provision and the right information, advice and careers guidance is in place for young people.
Information about Leeds
The Local Authority is responsible for reporting the number and percentage of young people (age 16-18) NEET to the Department for Education on a monthly basis, using the data collected by the Connexions service.
Monthly breakdown reports are available, which give detail on the number of young people NEET by: geographical area; ethnicity and gender; special education need level; and priority groups.
The reports are available:
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
2010
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009