More than 30,000 young people leave colleges each year without ever being recorded in official statistics, TES can reveal.

Data collected by colleges across the country over the past two years shows an increase of more than 13 per cent in the number of full-time 16-19 learners dropping out of their programme in the first six weeks without transferring to another course at the same college. This means that institutions do not receive funding for them - and nor are they included in success-rate data.

College and charity leaders said that it was impossible to know the reasons why such students left and whether they simply chose to follow a different career path, were unable to cope with the pressures of college life or were influenced by personal circumstances.

More action is needed to provide better careers information, advice and guidance to help young people make the best choices about their education, experts have warned.

Higher risk at lower levels

In 2015-16, the number of full-time 16-19 students who withdrew from their course within six weeks rose to about 33,000 (6 per cent of the total), up from 29,000 (4.9 per cent) two years earlier.

The statistics also show that in 2015-16, one in 10 learners on level 1 programmes left within the first six weeks of the course, compared with one in 25 studying at level 3, suggesting that lower-level learners are most at risk of dropping out.

There are also significant disparities between subject areas. The early dropout rate in languages, literature and culture courses stands at 12 per cent, compared with less than 5 per cent in arts, media and publishing, and less than 3 per cent among A-level students.

While college leaders stress that many of these students will have moved on to another course or into an apprenticeship, the figures highlight the significant barriers to remaining in education.

Shakira Martin, vice-president for FE at the NUS students’ union, said that learners with financial or mental health difficulties, young carers and single parents were often most at risk of dropping out of education.

The former Lewisham Southwark College student said: “If it wasn’t for my family, I would have dropped out around Christmas. If you look at those who drop out, it is probably those who have challenges outside the college.”

Funding pressures on colleges also meant some institutions were not able to “go the extra mile” to support students, she added.

This is an edited version of an article in the 16 December edition of TES. Subscribers can read the full story here. To subscribe, click here. To download the digital edition, Android users can click here and iOS users can click here. TES magazine is available at all good newsagents.

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