Concerns have been raised after it was revealed the education or work status of more than 1,000 young people in Leeds is unknown.
Just over six per cent of 16 to 18 year-olds in the city – 1,035 in total – have no education, work or unemployment records on the city council’s database. It means that teenagers potentially in need of state support are not receiving it, while it’s feared some may have been sucked into a life of crime.
The local authority said it was determined to find out exactly where those young people are. Potential factors thought to be behind the figures include a rise in home schooling, where there’s little regulation, and the abolition of the teenage support service Connexions, local councillors were told on Wednesday.
