UK education reforms face criticism over rising NEET numbers

Policy director Joe Shalam of the Centre for Social Justice argues that former education secretary Michael Gove’s curriculum reforms are not to blame for the increase in NEETs – young people aged 16‑24 who are not in education, employment or training – which now exceeds one million in the UK. Shalam points to higher costs of employing young workers, rising mental‑health benefit claims and a surge in non‑EU youth workers as primary drivers, while noting that Wales, which did not adopt the Gove‑era reforms, has an even higher NEET rate.

Former education secretary Gillian Keegan counters that the recent rise is linked to the COVID‑19 pandemic and Labour’s tax policies, not the education reforms. She highlighted that the UK’s school system has been praised internationally and cited the expansion of apprenticeship routes – now 700 in total – as evidence of successful technical education under the reforms.