New ‘scorecard’ system scores councils on school dropout rate

The scorecards will be published annually and are designed to show the public how local authorities are working to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The scorecards will cover young people aged 16-19 and rate how well councils perform in a number of areas, including the percentage of young people offered a place in education and how successfully councils are tracking the occupation of teenagers who are not in school.

The new system aims to help councils identify where they can improve, reduce youth unemployment and ensure all young people are either earning or learning.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “With recent figures showing record lows in the number of young people not in education, employment or training, it is clear that our economic plan is working.

“But we know there is more to do, and the annual NEET scorecards will prove a highly effective tool in delivering our commitment to helping young people reach their potential.”

Jim Leivers, Oxfordshire county council’s Director for Children, Education and Families, said: “The NEET scorecards are an excellent innovation, allowing us to measure our performance against the national average. The data are presented clearly and logically which, from a practical viewpoint, allows us to see easily how we are performing in key areas.

“Oxfordshire county council is committed to engaging young people in education, employment or training, and the scorecards can only help us to build on the progress we have made in bringing down the number of local young people classed as NEET.”

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