42,000 UK teens missing college under official radar

A report published by Dame Rachel de Souza highlights that approximately 42,000 16- and 17-year-olds in England are officially enrolled at college but fail to show up at least half of the time. Unlike standard schools, further education and sixth-form colleges in England currently lack any legal requirement to collect or report student attendance data.

The findings estimate that more than half, specifically 52.2%, of 16- and 17-year-olds are persistently absent based on school standards, meaning they miss 10% or more of college sessions. Meanwhile, about 42,000 students, accounting for 5.9%, are severely absent by missing at least half of their classes.

Dame Rachel told the BBC that a combination of factors drives teenagers away from college, including part-time employment, travel costs, and severe disengagement dating back to the Covid pandemic. She noted that while students balancing part-time jobs occasionally miss classes, those facing severe absence are often far more vulnerable individuals.

"We have called time and time again for increased investment, better integration of support services and a stronger national strategy for employer engagement,"

Dame Rachel de Souza

Liam Sloan, principal at Bolton College, noted that while few students missed more than half of their classes, those who were absent frequently struggled with mental health challenges or held part-time jobs. He added that a particular issue persists in English and maths GCSE classes, which students in England must study alongside primary courses if they lack a grade 4 or higher.