Young Lives Young Futures : Interim Report

Young people’s outcomes in, and transitions between, education and employment are widely acknowledged to carry significance for their future prospects and wellbeing.

In recent years in the UK there has been a growing policy focus on post-16 vocational education and training (VET) as a viable alternative to university as a route into employment for young people. Against this background, Young Lives, Young Futures (YLYF) is investigating how England’s VET system can better support the education-to-work transitions of young people who do not go to university. Drawing on interviews with policy makers, education practitioners and young people in four contrasting areas of England, this report presents key themes that have emerged during the initial stages of the research.

Key findings:

• The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted young people’s lives and post-16 transitions
• Young people’s post-16 transitions through VET are often non-linear and disjointed
• Young people taking non-university routes into employment face a range of distinctive barriers and challenges in their post-16 transitions
• A core challenge continues to be the low status of vocational pathways into employment compared to more traditional routes
• There is widespread concern about current provision of careers information, advice and guidance (CIAG) in England.

Read the executive summary and download the full report here