Shropshire teens record some of England’s lowest NEET rates

Shropshire’s 16 to 18-year-olds are being recorded outside education, employment or training at some of the lowest levels in England, according to new figures released by Shropshire Council.

The council says its combined rate for young people classed as NEET or whose destination is “Not Known” stabilised at about 3.2% in early 2026. That is less than one in 30 young people in the local post-16 tracking system.

The figures come as national concern grows over young people aged 16 to 25 who are not successfully placed in education, employment or training. Shropshire’s data covers a narrower age group, so it should not be read as a direct comparison with wider national headlines about youth inactivity.

Shropshire’s post-16 figures remain low

The council reported that “Not Known” destinations averaged 0.3% by April 2026. This category matters because it shows how many young people have not yet been clearly tracked into school, college, training, work or another known route.

NEET levels in the Shropshire Council area have remained broadly between 2.1% and 3.3%, the council said. It added that the local rate compares favourably with England, the West Midlands and most neighbouring authorities in its statistical group.

The numbers show a strong local tracking position, but they do not prove that every young person has an easy route into the right course, job or training place. A low NEET rate can still include individual cases where young people need intensive help, especially during the move from Year 11 into post-16 provision.

Early tracking is central to the council’s approach

Shropshire Council linked the improvement to work by its Post-16 service, Information, Advice and Guidance teams, schools, colleges and families.

The council said its approach includes targeted follow-up with schools and providers, early-year tracking, and quicker resolution of cases where a young person’s destination is not yet known.

Andy Hall, Cabinet member for children and education, said the figures were “really positive news for Shropshire’s young people” and said the council wanted to explore further opportunities or funding from national initiatives to keep improving outcomes.

Jo Brown, post-16 systems lead with Shropshire Council, said the authority works closely with secondary schools to identify students who may need help before the transition point. She said advisers work with targeted students over the summer so they have clear next-step plans in place.

In early September, the council contacts colleges and sixth forms to check whether students have started their courses. Those who have not started can then be followed up and supported into another suitable route.

The transition from school remains the pressure point

The local data focuses on 16 to 18-year-olds, the age range where councils have a statutory role in tracking participation. That makes the September transition period especially important.

A young person may have a planned college course, apprenticeship or training place at the end of Year 11, but still need support if transport, confidence, health, course suitability or family circumstances disrupt the start of term.

Geoff Renwick, lead education quality advisor with Shropshire Council, said support at age 16 is critical in the same way as transition support at age 11. He said the council works with colleges so young people can make a successful start and receive help from the outset.

The council also credited schools and colleges for their engagement with the tracking systems and processes used to identify young people who may otherwise slip out of view.

Low rates still leave individual cases to solve

For families, the most practical signal in the figures is not just the percentage rate. It is the council’s claim that very few young people are left in the “Not Known” category by spring, meaning the system is able to identify most post-16 destinations.

That can make intervention faster when a course falls through, a placement does not start, or a young person needs advice about another path.

The caveat is that the figures are a snapshot of recorded destinations, not a measure of course quality, job security, long-term earnings or whether each young person is on the route best suited to them.

Shropshire’s next challenge is likely to be maintaining low NEET and “Not Known” levels while national policy, funding and local post-16 options continue to shift around schools, colleges, apprenticeships and youth employment support.

Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom

Context & actions About this article Report Share

Source check Source trail

This article is based on Shropshire Council’s published figures and keeps the age range and caveats visible.

Checks

• Confirmed the figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds in the Shropshire Council area.
• Separated NEET rates from “Not Known” destination figures.
• Kept the national youth inactivity context distinct from the council’s narrower local data...
• Used only named council officers and quoted roles provided in the source material.

Shropshire Council Newsroom Check wider context

Source

Shropshire Council Newsroom

Scope

Shropshire

Updated

2026-06-03 14:03

Report

Article contextPeople & topics3#7

Andy HallJo BrownGeoff Renwick

#Not Known destinations#Post-16 education#School to college transition#Shropshire Council#Shropshire NEET rates#West Midlands#youth employment

Share +15 DP