Almost 27,000 young people win placements

Hampshire County Council said more than 97 per cent of the county’s 16 and 17 year olds secured got places for the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

The figures make the authority one of the best-performing at supporting young people to stay in education or training.

Executive member for education, councillor Peter Edgar, said: ‘Supporting young people to continue their education or training is one of our key priorities, and I’m very proud of our success in this area, supported by schools, parents and carers.

‘With almost 27,000 young people turning 16 or 17 years old in Hampshire last year, we have a bigger need to meet than most other local authorities in England.

‘Nonetheless we are exceeding both the national average, and the performance of all other authorities in England that have a similar number of young people.’

A young person reaching the age of 16 or 17 is entitled to an offer of a place in education or training the following year, by the end of September.

According to the Department for Education, the average rate for this – called the September Guarantee – across England is 94.5 per cent.