Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the latest estimate of how many 17-year-olds in England are failing to meet the duty to participate in education and training.

The latest National Statistics relating to participation in education and training by 16–18 year olds relate to the end of 2014, before the point at which the duty to participate in education or training was extended to 17 year olds (in June 2015). We therefore do not currently hold National Statistics which estimate how many 17 year olds in England are failing to meet the duty to participate in education and training. Figures for the end of 2015, which will include an approximation for those failing to meet the duty, will be published on 30 June 2016.

Local authorities collect their own data on young people’s participation, including data on those that meet the duty to participate. Figures relating to December 2015 for young people aged 16 or 17 are published on GOV.UK and are attached.

However, due to incomplete coverage of young people outside the state funded school system and differing approaches in local authorities, this does not provide an accurate national estimate.