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Key Findings - Pupil destinations from schools in Wales 2023

Young People who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET)

  • In 2023, there were 1,107 school leavers from Year 11, 12 and 13 known to be NEET in Wales, representing 2.0% of the total cohort
  • As in previous years, the Year 13 cohort continued to have a higher percentage of NEET (3.6% - 375 individuals) compared to the Year 11 (2.0% - 670 individuals) and Year 12 cohorts (0.5% - 62 individuals)
  • The percentage of Year 11 customers unable to enter Employment, Education or Training (EET) due to illness, caring for others or pregnancy stood at 1.3%. In the same category, the percentage of Year 12 and Year 13 customers stood at 0.3% and 2.2% respectively
  • The percentage of NEET Year 11 females who are unable to enter EET this year was higher than for NEET males (71.0% of NEET females and 60.5% of NEET males)

Continuing in Full Time Education (FTE)

  • Continuing in full time education (FTE) continues to be the most popular choice of destination by far for pupils in each of the three year groups
  • A higher percentage of females than males across all three cohorts chose to continue in full time education
Table showing cohort, males, females and difference data
CohortMalesFemalesDifference
Year 1184.6%89.0%4.4 percentage points
Year 1292.9%94.2%1.3 percentage points
Year 1370.4%79.6%9.2 percentage points

A greater proportion of those continuing in full time education (FTE) after Year 11 chose FE over school 6th forms, by 21.6 percentage points.

  • Sixth Form 39.2%
  • FE College 60.8%

In 2023, of those classified as continuing in FTE, going to FE was a more popular route for both males and females. The difference was greater for males (62.4% going to FE, compared to 37.6% staying in school) than it was for females (59.2% going to FE, compared to 40.8% staying in school).

In Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 a higher percentage of those in minority ethnic groups continued in FTE compared to those who are white.

Table showing cohort, white and ethnic minority data
CohortWhiteEthnic Minority
Year 1186.2%92.6%
Year 1293.3%95.5%
Year 1374.2%83.8%

Entering the Labour Market - Work and Training Routes

  • The percentage of young people entering Government supported training and work (Employed and Non-Employed status) was highest for those in Year 11 at 5.8% (1,930 individuals). 1.5% (171 individuals) of the Year 12 cohort and 3.6% (375 individuals) of the Year 13 cohort entered one of these options
  • The percentages of young people going straight into employment stood at 3.2 % for Year 11, 2.5% for Year 12 and 13.0% for Year 13
  • Entering the labour market (either training in the workplace or employment) was a more popular choice with males than females across all 3 cohorts in 2023
Table showing percentage of males and females by year group choosing to enter the labour market
CohortMaleFemale
Year 1110.7%7.3%
Year 124.5%3.6%
Year 1319.9%13.6%

A much smaller percentage of those in minority ethnic groups entered the labour market (employment or work-based training) than those who are white.

Table showing cohort, white, ethnic minority data
CohortWhiteEthnic Minority
Year 119.6%3.6%
Year 124.3%2.1%
Year 1317.6%8.4%

No Response Rate

The overall ‘No Response’ stood at 1.7%. The percentage for the ‘No Response’ rate was greatest for the Year 13 cohort at 3.9% (408 individuals).

Table showing no response rate data
Year 111.2%
Year 121.3%
Year 133.9%

View pupil destinations by year group