Choices, inspire, success: how Hartlepool College is supporting NEETs

Due to a rising number of NEET young people, Hartlepool College implemented two programmes, Choices and Inspire, targeted at young people not engaged at school or those who were considered to be ‘home-schooling’.

The Choices programme aims to develop a range of skills relevant to employment and personal development and act as an entry point for learners to gain a qualification. Learners can undertake ‘base units’ in elements in a range of subjects, and teaching is tailored to their personal interests and needs. The programme is targeted at students who may have difficulties in managing their emotions and behaviour and found their previous educational setting a challenge. There are a total of 24 learners across the programme; of these, 62.5% progressed onto other programmes of study with the college (all of whom transitioned to the college from alternative provision settings or units within schools with poor school attendance), 8.3% gained employment and 8.3% enrolled onto a supported internship. Of the remaining 20%, many left to attend other colleges with alternative courses.

The Inspire programme is aimed at those with Level 1 or below to encourage students to raise their aspirations and improve their confidence. Students have a range of needs, including social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

This demonstrates the importance of providing routes back into education for people at all levels and from all backgrounds. We know, for example, that those with lower educational levels are more likely to become NEET, with the average employment rate across OECD countries at 59% for those with lower upper secondary attainment, compared to 86% with tertiary education.