Lucy Powell coaxes Neets back to college by dumbing down maths and English requirements

Published: 15:15 EST, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 15:15 EST, 11 November 2026 Lucy Powell plans to coax Neets back to college by dumbing down English and maths requirements for them.The move is part of the Education Secretary's drive to reduce the 150,000 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (Neet).In future, these teenagers will be allowed to come back to college with the promise they can spend fewer hours studying maths and English than other students.However, last night shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: 'Young people are not Neet because they are doing too much English and maths.'Labour are hell-bent on blaming our education system for the Neets crisis, rather than doing some self-reflection on their total failure to crack down on a welfare system that incentivises young people to sit at home and taxing businesses to the hilt making it more expensive to hire.'Under reforms introduced by the previous Tory government, all teenagers who failed to achieve a level 4 – equivalent to the old C – in maths and English GCSE were required to keep retaking it until aged 18 alongside whatever other studies or training they were undertaking.It meant those studying, for example, beauty therapy, would still be working towards getting these GCSEs.Critics said it was demoralising for those who repeatedly failed, so Labour announced this year alternative 'basic skills' qualifications that failing teenagers could take instead.Education Secretary Lucy Powell (pictured) plans to coax Neets back to college by dumbing down English and maths requirements for themThese qualifications have yet to be rolled out, but the Government has said everyone studying for these will get 100 hours of teaching per subject to provide a decent chance of passing.Under today's announcement, it is understood any Neets who have failed to get level 4 at GCSE in the two subjects would still be required to work towards the alternative qualification.However, they would be allowed to do this with fewer studying hours than their peers.The Government said any 'remaining hours' for Neets would be delivered through 'one-to-one and small group support'.It is unclear how it would work in practice, with officials saying more details will be released at a later date.Ms Powell said in a speech to the Association of Colleges today: 'It's unforgivable that there are almost 150,000 16-18-year-olds who right now are Neet.'Instead of sitting at home, we need to get them into college or doing an apprenticeship.'I want us to reach them with an exciting, new, and engaging offer...'Because there are hundreds of thousands out there who need a second chance. Some of them need a third or fourth chance.'She said that reducing the maths and English burden would 'break down barriers' that further education colleges experience in recruiting Neets.She said she was on a 'mission' to 'get these young people back into college' and to 'engage' them with a sense of 'hope'.She added: 'These kids aren't doing any English and maths at all if they're at home in their bedroom scrolling on their phones.'So while English and maths, for example, are an important foundation for every young person's future, we cannot let the perfect become the enemy of the good.'It comes ahead of Alan Milburn's final report on the Neet crisis, expected later this month.Data published in May showed the number of young people aged 16 to 24 who were Neet surpassed one million for the first time since 2013.As part of Ms Powell's plans, she also wants to disincentivise colleges from entering students prematurely for exams, setting them up to fail.