According to the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, nearly 987,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are now classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training) … writes Colin Crooks MBE
As I was preparing to write this article I thought of Kieren. He was a young man who had been placed in secure care at great expense. His tutor told me he had been extremely abusive and violent. But as part of his development, he had been given a placement with a social enterprise which I ran at the time. Now, he was a changed young man. I asked what happened, and the tutor explained it was Kieren’s fascination with the forklift we used in the warehouse. He desperately wanted to drive it. To do that, he had to pass a test, but he could barely read. Determined to drive that truck, he started to study. Within 6 months he passed his forklift proficiency test and secured work.
According to the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, nearly 987,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are now classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training). This marks an increase of over 100,000 in just a year, a stark indicator of a system failing its most vulnerable. The problem is particularly acute among young men, who have been disproportionately impacted by declining job opportunities in traditional entry-level sectors such as retail and hospitality.
The consequences of being NEET are severe. Studies show that extended periods of disengagement from work or study create a “scarring” effect, where young people struggle to enter employment and face a lifetime of exclusion and inactivity. Many will suffer from mental health issues, exacerbated by the frustration and isolation that come with long-term unemployment.
The UK consistently performs well in international education rankings such as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), but this success masks a long-standing failure at the bottom end. We are exceptionally good at educating our brightest students; our top-performing pupils rank among the best in the world in maths, science, and literacy. However, the UK also has one of the widest attainment gaps between high and low achievers.
Approximately 15% of children leave school without any formal qualifications. Even more alarming, around seven million people in the UK are functionally illiterate, meaning they struggle with basic reading and writing. This is an indictment of an education system that leaves a substantial portion of its students behind. The lack of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills locks young people out of the workforce and prevents them from gaining even the most basic qualifications needed for become an apprentice or get an entry-level job.
In an effort to combat rising NEET numbers, the government has introduced the Youth Guarantee Scheme, promising every young person either a job, training, or education placement. While the initiative is commendable, it has been criticised for focussing too heavily on younger NEETs, neglecting the 22-24 age bracket, where long-term disengagement is most damaging.
More importantly, the scheme misses the three root causes of the problem: a rigid education system that fails to engage students who have different learning needs, a lack of vocational training, and a chronic shortage of jobs for unskilled young workers.
Kieren’s story is proof that practical, hands-on learning can change lives. The JCB Academy, a state funded free school, advocates integrating practical skills with academic learning. They argue that traditional schooling often fails because it does not answer a fundamental question for struggling students: why does this matter?
Too often, subjects like English and maths are taught in abstract terms, divorced from real-world applications. When young people see no relevance in what they are learning, they disengage. Schools and policymakers must rethink how core subjects are taught, embedding them into vocational training so that students understand their practical importance. For example, teaching the maths involved in moving weights with a crane or in budgeting for inflation can bring the subject to life, motivating those students who switch off in a conventional classroom.
Addressing the NEET crisis requires more than temporary government schemes; it demands a fundamental re-evaluation of how we educate and support our young people. We need:
A stronger focus on vocational education, ensuring that practical skills are given the same prestige as academic qualifications.
A rethink of how literacy and numeracy are taught, incorporating real-world applications to engage struggling students.
Better early intervention programmes to identify and support at-risk pupils before they leave school.
More robust employment opportunities for young people, including targeted apprenticeships and employer incentives to hire and train NEET individuals.
Kieren’s transformation—from a violent, disaffected youth to a skilled, valued worker—happened because someone gave him the opportunity to discover something he was passionate about. How many other young people could be turned around if they were given similar chances?
The UK’s education system has long prided itself on producing world-class students at the top end. But an education system is only as good as its ability to serve all students. Until we address the failure to support the bottom 15%, create more vocational opportunities and open up more job opportunities the NEET crisis will continue to deepen, leaving yet another generation locked out of opportunity, their potential squandered.
It’s time we stopped failing them.
