A government review led by Alan Milburn recommends that primary schools identify children at risk of becoming NEET. This initiative aims to address the rising number of young people in the UK who are not in education, employment, or training.
The £125 billion economic drain of youth disengagement
The UK is facing a significant financial burden due to the rising number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). According to the report, the annual cost to the UK economy is estimated at £125 billion, a figure that could rise as the number of affected 16-to-24-year-olds approaches 1.25 million within five years.
Recent data from the OECD highlights the severity of this trend, showing that the youth unemployment rate climbed from 13.8 per cent in July 2024 to 16.4 per cent. This spike represents the highest level of NEET involvement in 12 years, creating an urgent mandate for the current government to intervene.
Alan Milburn’s strategy for early-age intervention
Former health secretary Alan Milburn argues that the indicators for future unemployment are often visible long before a student reaches secondary school.. The review suggests that primary schools should take a proactive role in flagging vulnerable children who may be at risk of becoming disengaged from the workforce.
Milburn identifies specific risk factors that can be spotted in early childhood, including poverty, mental health issues, and children being in the care system. by identifying these children in their primary years, the review proposes that secondary schools and other support services can step in earlier to redirect their educational and career paths.
The political clash over Michael Gove’s academic reforms
The proposal has become a flashpoint for political debate between the current Labour government and the previous Conservative administration. Education Secretary Lucy Powell has criticized the existing system,claiming that schools are trapped in a "straitjacket" of academic prioritization.
Powell has suggested that the current rise in NEET figures is a direct result of education reforms championed by former education secretary Michael Gove. However, the report notes that these claims have been met with sharp criticism from senior Tories and education experts, who point to international league tables showing that Gove's reforms actually improved England's global education standing .
The missing roadmap for teacher-led identification
While the review calls for a "seamless support network" involving local authorities , schools, and employers, several practical questions remain unanswered. The report does not specify how primary school teachers will be equipped to identify these complex social risks without being overwhelmed by duties that fall outside of traditional teaching .
Furthermore, it remains unclear how the government intends to fund the "radical expansion" of technical education routes that Milburn has previously advocated for. Without a clear plan for how to balance academic requirements with vocational training, the transition from primary identification to meaningful employment remains a significant hurdle.
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