58,000 18-year-olds in England miss exam results due to education dropout

Nearly 58,000 18-year-olds in England will not receive exam results this week because they have left education or training, the Department for Education has confirmed. The figures coincide with A-level and T-level results day on 15 August, when thousands of students collect their grades.

The latest official data, published in May, revealed that 1.01 million young people aged 16 to 24 were neither in employment nor education during the first three months of 2024. This marks the highest number recorded since 2013, as reported by the Office for National Statistics.

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Government response focuses on vocational routes

Education Secretary Lucy Powell, appointed to the role in July, described the figures as a "clarion call" for government, employers and society. She told the Press Association that her priority would be a "revolution in vocational and technical qualifications" to provide alternatives to university.

Powell ruled out creating a two-tier education system, insisting that young people should have equal opportunities to pursue academic or vocational paths. She said her first meeting as Education Secretary was with Alan Milburn, former health secretary, who is leading a review into the issue of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

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“This is a clarion call for all of us in Government, and business and employers and society more widely, to really address this issue because this has a huge impact not just on those individuals for the rest of their lives but on society and the economy for years to come.”

Lucy Powell, Education Secretary

Milburn suggested in an interview with The Guardian that primary schools should identify children at risk of becoming NEET. Powell acknowledged there was no single solution but emphasised the need for early intervention and better vocational options.

University leaders warn against discouraging higher education

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, warned that rhetoric around the value of degrees should not deter young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. She told the Press Association that students without family experience of university might be particularly discouraged by negative messaging.

Powell responded by reaffirming her commitment to maintaining high standards across all education routes. She said young people in her Manchester Central constituency, which has high levels of child poverty, should have the same opportunities to attend top universities as those pursuing vocational careers.

Changes to school curriculum planned

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last month that technical subjects will be available to 14-year-olds from September 2028. The move follows decades of attempts by successive governments to achieve parity between academic and vocational education, including Tony Blair’s General National Vocational Qualifications and Theresa May’s T-levels.

Powell urged employers to actively seek out young people who could contribute to technological and industrial sectors. She said businesses should help shape training programmes to ensure they meet future workforce needs.

What happens next

The government’s review into NEET numbers, led by Alan Milburn, is expected to report its findings later this year. Schools and colleges will begin offering expanded technical options to younger pupils from 2028, subject to parliamentary approval.

Local authorities and careers services will receive updated guidance on identifying and supporting at-risk young people. The Department for Education has not yet confirmed whether additional funding will be allocated to support the reforms.