Year 11 NEET rate falls sharply in Welsh county
Dewi Williams
The number of young people leaving Year 11 without moving into education, employment or training has fallen sharply in one part of Wales.
New figures published by the Isle of Anglesey County Council show that just 0.6% of school leavers in 2025 were recorded as not in education, employment or training (NEET) on the island.
This follows a positive trend over previous years, with those registered as NEET reducing from 1.9% in 2024/25 and from 4% in 2023/24.
Partnerships between schools, support services, training providers and local employers have been credited for the improvement, with approaches like early intervention, identification of risk, and personalised support said to help young people avoid becoming NEET.
The effectiveness of the partnership approach can be seen through the experiences of young people who have received support, with one young person who had been out of education since year 10 now enrolled on a Jobs Growth Wales+ course – a development programme that gives 16-19 year old the skills, qualifications and experience they need for a job.
Carys Hughes, Engagement and Progression Coordinator, said: “The improvement in NEET figures highlights the positive difference that early intervention, partnership working and personalised support can make in helping young people move towards positive and sustainable futures.
“The Council and its partners will continue to build on this success by strengthening preventative approaches and expanding opportunities for young people across Anglesey.”
‘Extremely Encouraging’
Education and Welsh Language portfolio holder, Councillor Dafydd Roberts, added: “These figures are extremely encouraging and demonstrate what can be achieved when schools, the Council and our partners work together to put young people at the centre of everything we do.
“Supporting children and young people to achieve positive outcomes is a key priority for the Council. By providing the right support at the right time, we are helping to build confidence, develop skills and create pathways into further education, training and employment, ensuring our young people are equipped for today and for the future.”
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