Nuffield Foundation contributes research and evidence addressing barriers to education, training and employment.
With 1 in 8 people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (NEET), supporting their transition into the job market is a major test for the Government.
NEET young people are less likely to reach their full potential in the labour market, which can affect their own well-being as well as impacting on the country’s productivity and economic growth. Understanding the barriers they face is crucial for effective policy and support.
Nuffield-funded research considers this challenge from a range of perspectives, and we have been actively engaging with policymakers to ensure they are equipped with the evidence they need to address this issue.
Providing evidence to the Further Education and Skills inquiry
We submitted written and oral evidence to the Education Committee’s inquiry on Further Education and Skills, which published its report today. The report highlighted Nuffield’s Evidence on several areas affecting young people’s post-16 education and training.
Key Findings:
- Youth Guarantee (NEET)
The committee recommended extending the Youth Guarantee from 18–21-year-olds to 16–24-year-olds, so opportunities aren’t limited. Nuffield-funded research on the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) highlights the barriers young people face in the 16-18 age range. - Mixed qualifications
The committee recommended allowing post-16 students to combine A Levels, applied general qualifications, and T Levels to create more tailored and inclusive pathways. Nuffield supports this, highlighting the growing interest in mixed academic and vocational qualifications. Nuffield-funded research from the Education Policy Institute shows these combinations better reflect student needs. - Student Premium for disadvantages learners
The reports recommended introducing a student premium for 16–19-year-olds to help disadvantaged students access the support they need. Nuffield funded research from the Education Policy Institute shows the impact targeted funding can have on closing disadvantage gaps. - College funding and recruitment
The report highlighted the need for stable funding and support to help colleges recruit and retain students and address disparities in teacher pay. Nuffield-funded research, Education Workforce Challenges in England, echoes this, showing that consistent investment is key to ensuring post-16 education remains high-quality and accessible for all students. We support the Committee’s recognition of the need for more simplicity, coordination and flexibility in allowing young people access pathways that are right for them. - Other Evidence
Our submission emphasised the need to tackle the structural barriers that prevent young people from progressing in education and work.
We also highlighted the wider economic implications of youth disengagement – skills shortages, lower productivity, and reduced participation in the labour market – and their risk to long-term growth. Research from the Economy 2030 Inquiry, led by the Resolution Foundation, provided insight into how limited access to apprenticeships and vocational education can restrict opportunities for young people, and slow economic growth.
Included in our evidence was research from the University of Westminster’s Post 16 Pathways to the labour market for lower attaining learners at Key Stage 4 which explored the challenges these students face in accessing consistent post-16 education and training opportunities.
Contributing to a call for evidence from Policy Connect
The Foundation welcomed the opportunity to contribute to Policy Connects’ Skills Commission inquiry, which is exploring how to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training through research and evidence.
We highlighted evidence from the Experiences of 14–16-year-olds in Further Education, and the Long-term impacts of the Education Maintenance Allowance, which examined how early intervention and targeted support can improve post-16 outcomes and reduce the risk of young people becoming NEET.
Writing in the Financial Times
Our Chief Executive, Gavin Kelly, has drawn attention to the challenges facing young people who don’t achieve GCSEs in a recent article for the Financial Times, bringing the issue to a wider audience.
For those with the most limited prospects, the route forward often resembles a maze of low-level qualifications, gaps in advice and distortionary incentives.Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive
The article points to the urgent need for better pathways into work and training, and earlier support for those at risk of disengaging.
Our work in this area demonstrates our ongoing commitment to understanding the barriers young people face in accessing education, training, and employment. The Foundation’s new strategy, launched in July, reinforces this focus and highlights our continued role in providing evidence to inform policy and practice on the complex challenges shaping lives in the UK.
