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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

True cost of education

Failure to put teenagers on the right track at school or college costs the public purse £814m each year – equivalent to £1 in every £8 spent by the Government on post-16 education and skills, research has shown.

Failure to put teenagers on the right track at school or college costs the public purse £814m each year – equivalent to £1 in every £8 spent by the Government on post-16 education and skills, research has shown.

A Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion study undertaken for the Local Government Association finds 178,100 16-18-year-olds dropped out of courses they began in 2012/13 and are at risk of becoming not in employment, education or training (NEET).

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Ahead of the curve on health

By Mubasshir Ajaz | 08 September 2025

Mubasshir Ajaz explains how the West Midlands is leading the charge to put health at the heart of policy.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

New politics, new tensions

By Rob Whiteman | 02 September 2025

As Reform UK gathers this week for its annual conference, Rob Whiteman argues that with the party gaining control of some councils, local government must sup...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Putting procurement spending to the test

By Mo Baines | 08 August 2025

Mo Baines sets out the questions public contracting authorities should ask before deciding on a delivery model for services, using a Public Interest Test

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

A missed opportunity?

By Dawn Redpath | 31 July 2025

The Government must look beyond its heartlands in its efforts to drive growth, says Dawn Redpath.