This is an update of SFR22/2007 released in June 2007. The latest national statistics on participation of 16-18 year olds in education, training and employment produced by the DCSF were released on 19 June 2008 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority

The key points from the latest release are:

  • The proportion of 16-18 year olds in education and training was 78.7 per cent at end 2007 - the highest ever rate and an increase of 1.6 percentage points from 77.1 per cent at end 2006. The total number of 16-18 year olds in education and training increased by 36,000 to 1.59 million at end 2007, the highest number ever.
  • The proportion of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) decreased from 10.4 per cent at end 2006 to 9.4 per cent at end 2007. The total number of 16-18 year olds NEET was estimated at 189,000 at end 2007.
  • The proportion of 16 year olds, the first post-compulsory year, in full-time education at the end of 2007 is estimated at 79.3 per cent - the highest ever rate and an increase of 1.3 percentage points since end 2006.
  • The 14-19 Implementation Plan set the long-term ambition to transform participation, so that by 2015 90 per cent of 17 year olds are participating in education and WBL. The latest estimate towards this is 78.4 per cent at end 2007, up by 1.5 percentage points over the year.
  • Participation in full-time education by 18 year olds at end 2007 was 43.7 per cent, the highest ever rate and an increase of 2.1 per cent from end 2006. Participation in education and training at end 2007 was 63.0 per cent compared to 61.3 per cent at end 2006 and 61.0 per cent at end 1994.

Contact details

James Halse
Telephone: 0114 274 2515
Email: James.Halse@education.gsi.gov.uk