Despite the
current economic climate, the number of young people classed as NEET (not in
education, employment and training) is at its lowest level, according to latest
figures from Connexions Nottinghamshire.
In 2006, 10.2
per cent of Year 11 young people leaving school in Nottingham found themselves
NEET, but now (as of the end of September 2010), the figure stands at just 5.7
per cent.
And it isn’t
just school-leavers - the NEET figure for all 16-18-year-olds in the City fell
to an all time low of 5 per cent in September 2010.
Just to put
that in context, it means Nottingham has a much lower NEET rate than our
statistical neighbours (cities with similar socio-demographic backgrounds like
Southampton and Liverpool), and lower than all the other core cities, which
include Manchester, Bristol and Sheffield!
In the County,
the percentage of Year 11 school leavers becoming NEET has fallen from 5.7 per
cent in 2006 to an amazing 3.3 per cent in September 2010, while the NEET
figure for all 16-18 year olds stands at 4.5 per cent.
Again to put
these figures in context, national NEET figures for 16-18 year olds is 7.4 per
cent and in the East Midlands this stands at 6.9.
Michelle
Wright, Connexions Operations Director for Nottingham City, has the answer: “We
now get involved with young people a lot earlier and in some cases work with
them intensively from Year 9 to ensure they are thinking about and planning
their futures beyond Year 11.
“During the
summer and early September, we then put a lot of time and resource into
tracking young people and making sure that, if someone isn’t sorted for
September, we have a one-to-one interview with them and help them apply for
opportunities and support them into EET.
“We will keep
in contact with young people who are NEET until we successfully place them, and
beyond that we will check they are happy and progressing.”
“Connexions
also works very closely with all post 16 opportunity providers to make sure
that young people have up to date information about all the opportunities which
are available.”
Jean Pardoe,
Chief Executive of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Futures (Connexions parent
company), says: “This highlights the importance
of services working in partnership. Working together with young people’s
services across the city and county to ensure our young people are re-engaging
in learning or work makes a real difference to their lives and gives them
the skills to move forward in the world.”
Councillor
David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s
Services said: “We are delighted that despite the current economic climate, the
number of young people not in employment, education or training has continued
to fall in Nottingham. We are working hard to ensure that the downward trend is
maintained and believe that it is a result of having a joined up approach and providing the right
support services throughout the City. I’d
like to thank Connexions for the fantastic work they’re doing.”
X McKechnie, pictured above right
X would
have left school this summer but had been excluded when he was in Year 10.
Working with
his Personal Adviser, Michelle, X was placed on Stone Soup, a Nottingham City
project, which provides alternative provision – a work-based alternative to
school-based education. X says: “At Stone Soup you can do graphics,
construction and music technology. I picked music technology obviously and yeah
it’s a good place, great environment, tutors are good. You get treated as an
equal and I really enjoyed it there.”
Over the
summer, he worked with Michelle to work out his next steps and this September X
started a BTEC in Music Technology at New College Nottingham.
X, who credits
Connexions and Stone Soup with his success, says: “My PA Michelle was helpful
and supportive both before and during my training. Without her and the help of
Stone Soup I don’t know what I’d be doing today.”
Chelsea, 16, from Gedling, says: “Without Emma, my Personal Adviser, I’m not sure what I’d be doing
now. I missed a lot of school due to bullying so I left with no qualifications
and no idea how to get into a career working with children. I also had very
little confidence.
“Emma helped me
get onto a Foundation Learning course at Access Training and I love it. She
continues to support me. I hope that one day I can work with children who are
victims of bullying and help them overcome some of the problems I faced. If Connexions hadn’t been here I think I would be doing
nothing, I would still have no confidence, be low and depressed.”
