Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) have been a longstanding policy concern in the UK, and focus has intensified recently, now that almost one million 18-24 year olds are considered NEET. In this session, Professor Matt Dickson will explore the development of NEET policy in the UK, tracing its evolution from the influential Bridging the Gap report through to the current Milburn Review. The talk will examine how policy priorities have changed over time, review key findings from recent research, and consider the findings of the Milburn Review interim report.
This will be followed by an interactive session with Professor Ceri Brown and Dr Alison Douthwaite sharing key lessons for NEET prevention from a 3-year EU Funded study into early school leaving. You will learn more about the key risks to NEET and how interlinked risks combine to create barriers to progression and engagement for young people. They wil describe a range of effective interventions to prevent NEET and the common mechanisms that underpin a wide range of interventions.Through practical activities and discussion, we will explore how HEI outreach teams can support young people by applying these insights when working with schools, colleges and community organisations.
Matt Dickson is Professor of Economic and Social Policy at the Institute for Policy Research, where he leads the programme of research on widening participation in higher education. He has particular expertise in the economics of education, young people’s transitions to and through higher education, and intergenerational social mobility. Recent projects have examined the role of summer schools in access to higher education, the impact of work-placements on higher education attainment, and the pathways post-16 educational pathways that lead to success or otherwise. Recent co-authored reports for the IPR have examined the impact of the policy to keep young people in education or training to age 18 and the effect of the Opportunity Areas programme, a government initiative focused on communities with low educational attainment and high youth unemployment.
Ceri Brown is Professor of Childhood, Inclusion and Education Policy at the University of Bath. She is an expert in child-centred qualitative research examining how education supports belonging, inclusion, wellbeing and the prevention of NEET outcomes. Brown developed the Connected Belonging framework, the programme Theory of Change and the CBQ underpinning the proposed intervention and will therefore provide scientific leadership in interpreting and refining these throughout the project . Her research has informed policy and practice in England, Jersey and across Europe through sustained partnerships with schools, colleges, local authorities and national organisations.
Alison Douthwaite is a qualitative education researcher at the University of Bath with expertise in NEET prevention, youth engagement and early school leaving. She has significant experience in translating research insights into practical, actionable strategies and digital tools for practitioners and policymakers. As co-founder of Connected Belonging, she has developed, piloted and validated an innovative measure of belonging for schools and launched the web platform www.connectedbelonging.co.uk to facilitate access to the team’s toolkits and resources. She delivers commissioned and funded training on NEET prevention to Local Authorities, Education and Careers organisations.
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