Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, emphasized the importance of listening to young people in addressing youth unemployment during a recent visit to Scunthorpe, the steel town where she grew up. Speaking this week, de Souza highlighted the challenges faced by young people seeking work or education opportunities amid a rising number of youth classified as “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET).
During her visit, de Souza toured the British Steelworks and engaged with apprentices and students at John Leggott College. Apprentices expressed satisfaction with hands-on learning and teamwork but noted a lack of guidance, options, and relevant experience during their school years. Similarly, students called for better information about career pathways while still in education. De Souza stressed that any policies impacting children’s futures must incorporate their voices.
De Souza pointed to recent data showing that the number of young people out of work or education has increased by 300,000 since she took office five years ago. She argued against framing academic and vocational education as competing priorities, advocating instead for a system that delivers both. Citing improvements seen over the past two decades, she said education reforms and greater investment have expanded access to quality schooling, as demonstrated by recent OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results.
Nonetheless, de Souza acknowledged that not all students have benefited equally. Each year, roughly 200,000 students fail to achieve passing grades in English and mathematics GCSEs, underscoring the need for improved teaching and support, especially in these foundational subjects. She called for high-quality vocational training to be available as a genuine, valued option—not merely a fallback for those who struggle academically.
The Children’s Commissioner also highlighted ongoing consequences from the Covid-19 pandemic, including persistent absenteeism, which is closely linked to the risk of becoming a NEET. New data released by her office shows thousands of post-16 students are severely absent from education and require targeted intervention to re-engage with learning and work opportunities.
Looking ahead, de Souza expressed her commitment to collaborating with the government to create an education system that provides clear routes to employment for all young people, regardless of background or location. She reflected positively on the prime minister’s recent mention of Scunthorpe, noting the town’s resilience and the determination of its young residents to contribute to regional renewal through both academic achievement and vocational skills.