The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting on 5 March 2026 reviewed the council's performance in supporting young people's post-16 progression and examined school results. Key discussions included strategies to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), and an in-depth analysis of school performance across various key stages, including absence and exclusion rates.

Post-16 Progression and NEET Figures

The committee received an update on the council's approach to post-16 progression, aiming to keep young people engaged in education, employment, or training. Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs, and Siobhan Scantlebury, Head of Employment Services, presented the findings. They highlighted national trends of rising NEET figures, particularly affecting young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), care-experienced individuals, and those with mental health challenges.

Islington's NEET and Not Known rate had shown consistent year-on-year improvement since 2021, with the 2024/25 data showing a 3.9% rate, performing better than the national figure but higher than London and Central London averages. The report detailed the destinations of Year 11 school leavers in 2023/24, with 94.3% progressing to In Learning destinations.

The council's response includes programmes like Enrichment to engage young people with employers, the EMPOWER project targeting at-risk pupils, and transition support using Risk of NEET Indicators (RONI). Supported Internships for 18-25 year olds with SEND are also being provided. The Your Choice programme, aimed at reducing serious youth violence, has shown success with 95.4% of participants desisting from crime and 62.9% transitioning into education, employment, or training. The Empower Project has engaged 46 students from various schools, facilitating 29 career activities with over 20 local businesses. The World of Work Programme connected businesses with schools for young people aged 5-18, and work experience placements increased by 50% in 2024/25, with 46 students completing placements within Islington Council.

Future priorities include implementing new government expectations for post-16 provision, scaling up existing programmes like Youth Trailblazer and Connect to Work, and launching an Apprenticeship Academy. Broadening employer partnerships and fostering innovation in NEET prevention were identified as key areas for continued focus.

School Results and Performance

The committee also reviewed the Islington Annual Education Report 2025, which provided a comprehensive overview of educational outcomes in the borough. Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir, Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, noted that while many pupils performed above national averages, challenges remain, particularly concerning post-pandemic attendance and persistent absence.

Key findings for primary schools in 2025 indicated:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) attainment increased but remained below national and Inner London figures.
• The proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in Year 1 phonics was slightly below the national average, though FSM and SEN pupils in Islington performed better than their national peers.
• Islington pupils outperformed national peers at Key Stage 2 across all subjects, but performance was below Inner London.
• Primary school absence and persistent absence rates increased and remained above comparator rates.
• Primary school suspension rates increased, while permanent exclusions decreased.

For secondary schools in 2025:

• Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores improved and were above national but below Inner London.
• Proportions achieving standard and strong passes in English and Maths were above national but below Inner London.
• Secondary school absence and persistent absence increased and remained above comparator rates.
• The rate of permanent exclusions continued to rise but was in line with Inner London and Statistical Neighbour averages, and below the national average.
• The secondary school suspension rate increased and was above Inner London and Statistical Neighbour averages, but below the national average for the second time since 2015.

Post-16, Elective Home Education (EHE), and Children Missing Education (CME):

• Islington students performed better than London and national averages on Key Stage 5 Average Points Score (APS) measures, though A-level grades were below Inner London and National.
• The percentage of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) or in a 'not known' activity fell to 3.9%, lower than the national figure but higher than Inner London.
• The number of Electively Home Educated (EHE) pupils increased, with Islington maintaining a rate consistent with the national average but above the Inner London average.
• The rate of Children Missing Education (CME) remained consistent and below national and Inner London averages.

Councillor Paul Convery raised concerns about the persistent absence rates in both primary and secondary schools, noting they remained above comparator rates. Councillor James Potts, Reading Champion, inquired about initiatives to boost reading for pleasure and Key Stage 2 attainment, particularly in light of World Book Day. The committee also discussed the increase in young people's drug and alcohol substance misuse referrals, with 48 referrals noted.

The committee also reviewed the Quarter Two Performance Report for 2025/26, which detailed performance against corporate indicators across various areas, including resilient children and families, lifelong learning, skills and enrichment, care support and safeguarding, and children's health. The report highlighted an increase in children's social care contacts and a rise in domestic abuse offences reported to the police.

Finally, the committee discussed its work programme for the remainder of the year, with future meetings scheduled to cover updates on Child Friendly Islington, Lifelong Corporate Parenting, and performance reports.