NEET plans need specialist action for disadvantaged and SEND students, says AoC

Targeted action is needed to prevent disadvantaged students and those with additional needs from becoming NEET, the Association of Colleges has warned today.

A new report, commissioned by the AoC and produced by Youth Employment UK, found that the young people most likely to need consistent support are often those facing the greatest barriers to attendance, engagement and access to the workplace.  

The findings come weeks after Alan Milburn’s interim report on tackling youth inactivity highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent a new generation becoming disconnected from education and work.

The report is an analysis of the Youth Voice Census 2025, which captured responses from more than 8,200 young people across the UK, including more than 2,000 college and sixth form students.

It found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of students rate their college experience as good or very good. However, behind this overall positive picture, the findings revealed inequalities in experience, attendance and access to opportunity.

The census highlighted that over a quarter (28%) of 16 to 18-year-old college students have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), and that these students are more likely to struggle with independent learning, routine and the college environment. At the same time, nearly a quarter of college students had experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, which had knock-on effects on attendance, wellbeing and progression.

Responses showed that one in four college students reported missing more than 10 days of education in the previous year, with mental health, stress, family responsibilities and financial pressures among the key drivers.  

Crucially, the analysis found that disadvantage and additional needs affect the reasons students gave for missing education.  

More than a quarter of FSM students cited family responsibilities as factor, compared to 12% of non-FSM peers, and mental health and stress also play a larger role, affecting 28% of FSM students versus 21% of others. Financial pressures, though less common overall, are more prevalent among FSM students (5% compared to 1%).  

Similarly, students with additional needs faced greater challenges, particularly around mental health; 34% reported absence for these reasons compared to 19% without additional needs. They were also more likely to miss education due to personal, emotional, and school-related difficulties such as bullying or struggles with coursework.

The report also raised serious concerns about declining access to careers education and employer engagement.  

Work experience remains one of the most effective ways of preparing young people for employment, yet access remains uneven. While 43% of students reported completing work experience in the past year, many opportunities were secured through personal or family connections. The report warned that reliance on networks risks entrenching inequality, with those without connections missing out on opportunities to build skills, confidence and employer relationships.

Overall, just 51% of students said their college had supported them to develop the skills they need for the future.  It found that access to careers lessons, mentoring and face-to-face advice has dropped sharply since 2023, while employer engagement opportunities have also declined.

Catherine Sezen, Director of Education Policy, Association of Colleges said: “I’m really pleased that the majority of students are over overwhelming positive about their college, highlighting the high-quality teaching, diverse course options and supportive environments.

“However, the analysis on absence, as well the section on careers education, needs serious consideration.

“It’s obvious that those who are disadvantaged, or those with additional needs, need extra support when at college. The findings on their absence, and around work experience opportunities, are deeply worrying, and when combined, clearly shows that they are at more risk of becoming NEET than their peers.

“Colleges do so much for their students, against all odds, but these findings underline the growing strain on the further education system, with funding pressures limiting colleges’ ability to provide tailored support, particularly for those who need it most.  

“We are yet again calling for increased investment, better integration of support services and a stronger national strategy for employer engagement.”

Lauren Mistry, Deputy CEO at Youth Employment UK, said: “The 2025 Youth Voice Census captures a generation navigating a difficult contradiction. It is encouraging that nearly three-quarters of college students view their experience positively, and it is a testament to the work of colleges that just 3% of students said they were unlikely to complete their course.

“But we cannot ignore the sharper barriers facing young people with additional needs and those who have experienced disadvantage. Absence is rarely just an attendance issue. It can be an early warning sign linked to mental health, financial pressure, family responsibilities and whether a young person has the right support around them.

“Young people are also clear that work experience and connections to employers matter. If those opportunities depend too heavily on personal networks, the young people who need them most are at risk of missing out.

“This report shows the scale of what colleges are being asked to hold alongside educational attainment of students, from pastoral support to wellbeing, careers guidance and employer engagement. Colleges cannot carry that alone. Employers, colleges and the wider system all have a role to play in making sure every young person can access the support, experience and opportunity they need to move forward with confidence.” 

The full report can be read here.