How to work with schools to provide options for NEETs

Compass Curriculum (14-16) is a multi-partner technical education programme delivered by Blackpool and the Fylde College in collaboration with five secondary schools in Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT), Myerscough College, Blackpool Sixth Form College and Blackpool FC Community Trust. It forms part of Blackpool’s wider NEET-prevention strategy and targets a known risk point: limited access to technical education and careers insight at Key Stage 4.

Compass enables Year 9 pupils to opt for a technical qualification, studied one day per week across Years 10 and 11 in industry-standard college environments. Almost half (48%) of FCAT Year 9 pupils chose a Compass option, studying subjects aligned to regional labour market demand. The programme provides early exposure to technical careers, alternative pedagogical approaches and clear progression pathways into post-16 education or training.

The initiative responds to contributing factors linked to NEET risk, including disengagement from purely academic curricula, lack of early careers guidance, and limited understanding of technical routes. Delivery takes place at college sites, with close collaboration between schools, colleges and external partners.

Compass Curriculum is embedded within Year 9 option choices and runs as a two-year programme (three hours per week). Pupils follow an accredited technical qualification combining practical and knowledge-based learning. Year 10 students focus on engagement, industry awareness, practical skill development, and Year 11 students work on an occupational focus, progression planning and early post-16 enrolment.

Teaching is delivered by specialist FE staff, supported by structured checkpoints, parental engagement and close information sharing with schools.

There are ongoing challenges including cost (the project is funded partly through Youth Futures Foundation and individual school budgets), timetable alignment across institutions and ensuring parity with national curriculum / KS4 expectations, both addressed through joint planning and governance, parental engagement, and timescales relating to budget-planning as schools have a markedly different budget-planning cycle than FE.  

The Compass Curriculum has demonstrably strengthened sustained engagement and post-16 transition. Students, parents and delivery partners are surveyed three times each year. Results show a significant uptake at KS4, with nearly half of eligible pupils selecting a Compass pathway, as well as improvements in pupil motivation, behaviour and school attendance. The clear progression routes into Level 2/3 study, T Levels and apprenticeships have meant that 87% of pupils have a confirmed destination into post-16 education, and 97% of pupils said they feel ready for their next steps. Parents, too, are seeing the benefit: 54% of parents believe attending Compass has improved their child’s confidence in learning, with 73% believing Compass has helped develop ‘life skills’.