Academic year 2023/24

September Guarantee: offers of education and training for young people age 16 and 17

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Introduction

This release presents data for England showing the offers made through the September Guarantee. The September Guarantee is a guarantee of an offer, made by the end of September, of an appropriate place in post-16 education or training for every young person completing compulsory education. This is particularly important as it helps young people make a seamless transition into post-16 learning or employment with training. Local authorities are responsible for leading the 'September Guarantee' process, working with schools and colleges across their area.

Data is collected using the National Client Caseload Information System (NCCIS), which draws together local databases used to support young people to engage in education and training and plan services that meet young people’s needs.

NCCIS figures showing the proportion participating in education and training and an estimate of those not in education, employment or training (NEET) are published annually in the release Participation in education, training and NEET age 16 to 17 by local authority. (opens in a new tab)


Headline facts and figures - 2023/24

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Tables

The tables below have been created to allow quick access to key information:

 

Data Source

Local authorities in England must report information to the Department for Education through the National Client Caseload Information System (NCCIS). The number of 16 and 17-year-olds known to the local authority and information about the young person's activity are recorded on the local authority client databases, extracts from which are used for this underlying data. 

Local authorities are required to provide:

  • basic information about young people in their area (such as name and address)
  • their needs and characteristics (gender, ethnic group, disability, care leaver)
  • their post-16 transition plans (intended destination, September Guarantee offers)
  • their current activity and when this was last confirmed.

The age of the learner is measured at the beginning of the academic year, 31 August.

Further information can be found in the accompanying methodology and full details of the NCCIS collection in the management information requirement (opens in a new tab)

Legislation

Raising the participation age policy

Raising the participation age (RPA) legislation was introduced in 2013/14, requiring 16-17 year olds in England to remain in education or training. 

The government provides the framework and funding to increase participation and reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), however, responsibility and accountability for delivery lies with local authorities. Under Section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 (ESA 2008) local authorities have a duty to encourage, enable or assist young people’s participation in education or training. 

The government publishes local authority participation data so that members of the public can make informed decisions about the performance of their own local authority.

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Methodology

Find out how and why we collect, process and publish these statistics.

Management information

Management information describes aggregate information collated and used in the normal course of business to inform operational delivery, policy development or the management of organisational performance. It is usually based on administrative data but can also be a product of survey data. The terms administrative data and management information are sometimes used interchangeably.

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about September Guarantee: offers of education and training for young people age 16 and 17 statistics and data:

Post-16 statistics team

Email: post16.statistics@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Anneka Albon

Press office

If you have a media enquiry:

Telephone: 020 7783 8300

Public enquiries

If you have a general enquiry about the Department for Education (DfE) or education:

Telephone: 037 0000 2288

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