Title

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Skills minister introduces council scorecards

Councils will now be able to see how well they are getting young people into education, employment or training compared to other authorities, with the launch of a new annual scorecard.

Councils will now be able to see how well they are getting young people into education, employment or training compared to other authorities, with the launch of a new annual scorecard.

The scorecard will rate councils' performance against the national average in areas such as tackling youth unemployment and tracking the activity of young people.

Scorecards covering the 16 to 19 age group will be published every summer.

Skills minister Nick Boles said: ‘With recent figures showing record lows in the number of young people not in education, employment or training, it is clear that our economic plan is working, but we know there is more to do, and the annual scorecards will prove a highly effective tool in delivering our commitment to helping young people reach their potential.'?

New local authority data shows a year-on-year rise in the proportion of 16- and 17-year-olds in education and training, with 52,000 fewer young people in this category since 2011.

Jim Leivers, Oxfordshire CC's director for children, education and families, added: ‘The scorecards are an excellent innovation, allowing us to measure our performance against the national average. 

‘The data is presented clearly and logically, which, from a practical viewpoint, allows us to see easily how we are performing in key areas.'?

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Southport Inquiry: a damning verdict

By Martin Ford | 23 April 2026

The inquiry into the devastating knife attack that claimed the lives of three young children in 2024 has delivered a damning verdict on the authorities invol...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Restoring the third pillar of local authority finance: citizen investment

By Karl Harder | 23 April 2026

Karl Harder looks at the benefits of citizen investing.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

'Banging the table for children'

By Ann McGauran | 22 April 2026

The new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ passionate belief in the rights of children and young people shines through. Ann Mc...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Can South Cambridgeshire's four-day week case be broadened into an argument?

By Abdool Kara | 22 April 2026

Abdool Kara does not question the data South Cambridgeshire has produced in favour of a four-day working week, but he doubts that can be broadened into an ar...

Popular articles by MJ reporter