In the research, disadvantage is looked at through two groups: learners who had been eligible for free school meals and learners identified as having special educational needs (SEN).

The differences in outcomes are significant.

By age 25, 22% of learners who had been eligible for free school meals had achieved a Level 6+ qualification, compared with 42% of those who had not.

For learners with SEN, just 15% had achieved a Level 6+ qualification by 25, compared with 42% of learners without SEN.

The differences continue into employment too. By age 25, 21% of learners who had been eligible for free school meals were earning more than £30,000, compared with 38% of non-FSM learners. For learners with SEN, that figure was 19%, again compared with 38% of learners without SEN.

The research also highlights the relationship between early and later periods of NEET.

Young people who are NEET at 16 or 17 have a 71% chance of being NEET again at least once between the ages of 18 and 21. For those who are NEET at both 16 and 17, that rises to 82%.

The findings underline the case for early support, but also raise a wider question. Getting someone back into learning or work is only part of the challenge. Helping them stay there and continue to progress matters too.

Getting the foundations in place

The research shows a strong link between earlier attainment and later outcomes.

Among young people who went on to experience persistent periods of being NEET, just 18% had achieved Level 2 English and maths at age 15. For those who were never NEET, that figure was 69%.

The figures also show that disadvantage is more prevalent among those experiencing longer periods of NEET. More than half of those who were NEET for four or more years had previously been eligible for free school meals, while 43% had been identified as having SEN.

For those of us working in education and skills, it is another reminder of the importance of strong foundations, early support and giving people different ways to build their skills.

Vocational learning also features prominently in the findings.

By age 25, 62% of learners with SEN had a vocational qualification as their highest level of learning, compared with 37% of learners without SEN.

Vocational qualifications also feature strongly among learners who had been eligible for free school meals.

There isn’t one route that works for everyone.

What happens after the qualification matters too

Perhaps one of the most striking findings is that the gaps in outcomes do not simply disappear when learners achieve higher qualifications.

Even among learners reaching Level 6 or above, those who had been eligible for free school meals or identified as having SEN were still less likely to progress to higher earnings than their peers.

Qualifications clearly matter. But they are part of a bigger picture.

For those of us working across education and skills, the findings raise questions about what else helps people move successfully into work and continue to progress. Alongside qualifications, that means thinking about confidence, communication, essential skills, digital skills, understanding the workplace and knowing how to take the next step.

At NOCN Group, we’ve been looking at that whole journey, from building the foundations for learning to developing the skills and confidence for work and creating opportunities to keep growing.

Now, we’re bringing more of those pieces together, and we’re nearly ready to share what’s coming next from NOCN Group. Register your interest below.