The government’s latest NEET data shows that the number of young people not in education, employment, and training is up. Over 800,000 16 to 24-year-olds were NEET which is around 3,000 more than a year earlier. Whilst the annual figures represent a 0.3 percentage point fall – down from 13.6% in 2024 to 13.3% last year - this still equates to more than one in eight young people and is up one third since the pandemic. This matters because studies have shown that time spent NEET can have a detrimental effect on physical and mental health, and increase the likelihood of unemployment, low wages, or low quality of work later on in life.
Research shows the origins to becoming NEET go back to secondary school and the transition into post-16 learning. Further, studies have shown that young people without qualifications are twice as likely to be NEET compared to peers qualified to GCSE level and above. Young people who exit education at 16 infrequently return to education to take higher qualifications - and without them, the risk of NEET doubles. Young people who are struggling at school are at significant risk of becoming NEET later on.
So, what can secondary schools and local authorities do to prevent young people from becoming NEET?
In this half day masterclass, education expert Matt Bromley will explore the link between disengagement, absenteeism, and NEET - offering strategies for school leaders and teachers to foster a better sense of belonging in school, including for those who face additional challenges such as being disadvantaged or having SEND, so that young people attend, engage, and make progress at school, and are helped to find suitable future pathways post-16.
By the end of this masterclass, participants will be able to:
Develop a deeper understanding of the causes, risk factors, and long-term impact of young people becoming NEET.
Recognise the links between disengagement, absenteeism, exclusion, and poor post-16 outcomes.
Identify early warning signs that indicate a young person may be at risk of becoming NEET.
Evaluate how school culture, systems, curriculum, and pastoral structures can improve belonging, engagement, attendance, and achievement.
Apply evidence-informed strategies to foster motivation, resilience, participation, and positive relationships in school.
Explore effective ways for schools, families, local authorities, and external agencies to work together to support young people.
Develop targeted approaches to support disadvantaged, vulnerable, and SEND pupils to access and sustain positive post-16 pathways.
Reflect on their own context and identify practical actions to strengthen NEET prevention and improve outcomes for young people.
Facilitator
Matt Bromley is an education writer and advisor with over twenty years’ experience in teaching and leadership including as a secondary school headteacher and principal, FE college vice principal, and MAT director. He is a public speaker, trainer, and school improvement lead, and a primary school governor. He remains a practising teacher, currently working in secondary, FE and HE settings. Matt writes for various newspapers and magazines, is the author of numerous best-selling books on education, and co-hosts the award-winning SecEd podcast. He regularly speaks at national and international conferences and events, and he delivers teacher-training.