The Next Risk Point: Why Ages 16–24 Demand Strategic Inclusion in Colleges

Insights & Evidence for Post-16 Providers Navigating a Challenging and Continuously Changing Landscape

With nearly one million young people aged 16–24 currently out of education, employment or training in the UK, colleges are facing a cultural inflection point.

The most recent data shows youth NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rates are at their highest in over a decade. This isn’t just a blip. It’s a signal.

According to the Office for National Statistics (2025):

• 13.4% of 16–24-year-olds in the UK were NEET between October and December 2024

• This includes 595,000 young people who are classified as “economically inactive”

• Nearly half of all NEET individuals stay that way for over a year

• Rates are highest among those aged 18–24 (15.8%)

Many of these young people aren’t just unemployed. They’re navigating long-term health issues, caring responsibilities, or systemic disengagement.

What’s Going On?

The drivers of post-16 NEET rates are layered and complex:

• Regional inequality continues to shape access to local opportunities

• Mental health challenges and SEND needs often remain unsupported

• The transition from school to college or work is fragmented and under-resourced

• Students from structurally disadvantaged backgrounds face multiple, compounding barriers

And yet, colleges are rarely equipped with the strategic tools to address this holistically.

Why Inclusion Strategy Matters Post-16

We often think of NEET prevention as a school issue. But research from the Learning & Work Institute and Youth Futures Foundation shows that colleges play a pivotal role in re-engaging young people during this next phase.

By 16, many have already internalised low expectations or disengaged from traditional learning. This is the moment where inclusion must shift from reactive to resilient and strategic.

The AXIS Framework™: A Post-16 Inclusion Model

At Axis Inclusion, we support colleges to embed a culture of equity using our four-pillar model:

• Awareness – Train staff to identify disengagement patterns and intervene early

• eXposure – Offer enriching access to industries, role models, and diverse pathways

• Identity – Centre belonging and self-worth in post-16 provision

• Support – Wrap-around systems for mental health, skills development and re-engagement

This framework goes beyond tokenistic efforts. It aligns whole-college culture with what learners need to thrive.

What Success Can Look Like

Colleges implementing inclusive, strategic approaches have seen:

• Increased return-to-study rates

• Lower withdrawal/drop-out numbers

• Greater uptake in vocational pathways (e.g. apprenticeships, T Levels)

• Improved learner confidence and future readiness

A Call to Action

If your college is noticing more absences, more mental health concerns, or more learners lost in transition, it’s time to ask:

• Are we offering inclusive support before learners reach a crisis point?

• Are we helping young people see what’s possible beyond the classroom?

• Are we equipping staff to build resilience, not just retention?

Axis Inclusion is here to help.

We work with post-16 providers to co-create inclusion strategies that are bold, practical, and responsive to today’s challenges. If this article resonates with what you’re seeing on the ground, let’s talk.

Contact: info@axisinclusion.co.uk

Sources: ONS Youth NEET (Feb 2025), Learning & Work Institute (April 2025), Youth Futures Foundation (2024), Financial Times (Feb 2025).