Youths are more likely to be in education or training than in almost any other part of the country

School-leavers in Brent are more likely to be in education or training than in almost any other part of the country, new Government figures have revealed.

According to statistics released by the Department for Education, 93.6 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds in the borough are in education and training.

This is an increase of 0.7 per cent from the previous year resulting in the fourth best performance in the UK - despite pockets of high deprivation in the borough.

The statistics, which were released on Wednesday, were complied from figures collected four months ago.

In addition to teaching, schools in the borough offer careers information, advice and guidance so that pupils make well-informed decisions about the type of courses they progress on to once they leave school.

Brent Council also works with young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), to support them to re-engage in learning and rigorously tracks school leavers to identify those who are NEET.

Anyone found to be a NEET are contacted by a personal advisers who conducts home visits to offer intensive support.

Vulnerable youths such as those in care, teenage parents or young offenders are offered tailor-made support.

Cllr Mary Arnold, Brent Council’s lead member for children and families, said: “Lots of credit must go to the schools, the college, the training providers and the Brent 14-19 Partnership for ensuring Brent education provision is meeting the learning needs and the aspirations of our young people.”

“The participation of all young people in education and training until the age of 18 is critical to our ambitions to reduce poverty and inequality, particularly in our most deprived communities.

“The help that schools, the college, training providers and the council gives our young people to make the successful transition from school into post-16 education, employment and training is particularly important, as what happens at this stage will influence the rest of their lives.”