The document discusses strategies in Sheffield, UK to increase youth participation rates beyond compulsory education. It describes analyzing data on at-risk youth to predict non-participation trends and target support. Risk-of-NEET (not in education, employment, or training) models are used to identify vulnerable students before and after age 16. Data sharing across organizations and a managed transfer process aim to reduce dropout rates by improving guidance and post-16 options fit. Learner feedback indicates wrong option selection is a key reason for disengagement, so further analysis will explore the guidance-to-placement process.

1. Raising the Participation Age
Strand 3
Knowing the Cohort
Sheffield

2. Knowing the Cohort
•Trajectory to 2015 and beyond
•RONI pre 16
•RONI – post 16
•data sharing platform
•deep dives & learner feedback
Sheffield

3. Trajectory to 2015 and beyond
Understanding where we have non- participation and
the characteristics of those young people need to be
mapped in order for the right support and the right
provision to be put into place.
We need to be able to understand the trends in order
to predict the likely blocks to ensure participation.
We have looked at issues on a geographical split, by
schools and by groups of young people identified as
vulnerable and know that ‘one size will not fit all’
Sheffield

4. Current Picture based on Residency
In Employment without
NEET Not Known Training
cohort
size Y12 Y13 Y14 Y12 Y13 Y14 Y12 Y13 Y14
South East 2255 34 46 54 19 44 116 15 29 131
East 2880 58 68 98 57 139 251 9 48 127
Central 1811 25 33 35 27 64 110 6 20 49
South 2359 29 45 77 21 66 130 8 25 123
South West 2005 7 8 6 11 32 82 4 10 46
Northern 2411 27 41 52 8 42 77 12 47 147
North East 3484 85 137 146 22 57 83 24 62 175
Total 17534 268 383 472 174 513 1016 80 242 796
Sheffield

5. Sheffield are hoping to achieve 98% participation –
the figures show the current picture as of 29/2
Total Not in Learning
Y12 Y13 Y14 Total %
South East 68 119 301 488 21.6%
East 124 255 476 855 29.7%
Central 58 117 194 369 20.4%
South 58 136 330 524 22.2%
South West 22 50 134 206 10.3%
Northern 47 130 276 453 18.8%
North East 131 256 404 791 22.7%
Total 522 1138 2284 3944 22.5%

6. Pre 16 RONI
•The RONI model is focused around the collection of data on
demographic, education and social care factors which could be used to
produce an estimate of a child’s likely vulnerability.
•Within this model, each child was given a score based on each of the
individual factors that were evaluated and from this a total ‘vulnerability
score’ was obtainable. Consequently a ranking system was adopted for
the selection of those children deemed to be ‘at risk of NEET’.
•The RONI has been used across the Y9-Y11 cohorts and the data
shared with schools to be used in discussion with Targeted Youth
Support to identify those young people who need support.
Sheffield

7. Pre 16 RONI
•It is now possible for us to evaluate the accuracy of the original RONI
model using data from the Year 11 cohort now in post 16.
The indicators we are analysing are:
Attendance (Unauthorised and Present)
KS2 Average Points, 1 Level Progress and 2 Levels progress data
Number of Exclusions and days excluded
Ethnicity and Home Language
Gender
Known to MAST, known to CareFirst, days contact with social services
and known to YOS.
•STATA has been used in order to gain an understanding about which
of the factors was the most significant and had the biggest bearing on
whether a child was to become NEET. By observing the STATA output
it was evident that some of the obvious factors such as attendance and
attainment were clearly a good indicator as to whether a child will
become NEET.
Sheffield

8. Post 16 RONI
•The ‘invention’ of a post 16 RONI is a more difficult
prospect due to the diversity of progression options. A
data tool may not be the answer to this, we are finding
that the strengthening of links and an evolving group of
providers meeting through the NEET panel is a more
effective move forward
•The introduction of the NEET Panels and data sharing
agreements with training providers as well as
education providers has already had some impact on
the numbers not engaged in learning and is giving us a
platform to progress the Post 16 RONI. The
introduction of a ‘managed moves’ process within the
NEET panels will be the next challenge
Sheffield

9. Data Sharing Platform
•The tracking system for targeted youth support and
positive activities (IYSS) is due to move within LA by
April, this will improve reporting capabilities and allow
for more regular analysis of the data we collect.
•There are working groups in the Local Authority
looking at the variety of systems used across this
client group to see if it is possible to consolidate the
data further and to improve the reporting across
systems. It is important that this is fully investigated
as we do not want to diminish the data already
existing.
Sheffield

10. Deep dives & Learner Feedback
•One of the recent attempts to understand and use our data more
effectively has been the ‘Drop out’ survey which has shown that the
most common reason for disengagement from learning post 16 is
when young people have ‘chosen the wrong option’. We plan to
undertake further analysis to look at the guidance – intended
destination – offer of place – to actual take-up to find where the
problems occur in this process and to continue to produce monthly
analysis around this issue.
•Sheffield has a large number of young people in jobs without training
and needs to implement a strategy with both young people and
employers to tackle this. There has been work trialled in other areas
which involves young people working/influencing those young people
who are in employment without training and Sheffield would like to
develop this model.
Sheffield