More young people in Oldham are staying in education and training than the regional and national averages, according to the latest government figures.

The Department for Education data for the 2025/26 academic year shows that 93.2 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds in the borough are taking part in education or training. This is an increase of 2.8 percentage points on the previous year and sits above the North West average of 91.8 per cent and the England average of 92.2 per cent.

The figures also reveal a continued reduction in the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). Oldham's combined rate of NEET or status unknown has fallen to 4.6 per cent, down 1.1 percentage points on the previous year. That is lower than both the North West average of 5.5 per cent and the England average of 5.8 per cent.

Just 59 of Oldham's 7,177 16- and 17-year-olds have an unknown destination, representing 0.8 per cent of the total. This compares favourably with 1.3 per cent across the North West and 2.4 per cent nationally.

Oldham Council attributed the positive results to strong partnership working with Positive Steps, the local charity that provides careers advice, guidance and support to help young people move into education, training or employment. The charity also supports young adults aged 19 to 25 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan.

A council spokesperson said: "These figures demonstrate the positive impact of the support available to young people across Oldham. This is a testament to the dedication and partnership working across the borough to give every young person the best start in life, with Positive Steps, our schools, colleges, training providers, employers and council services working together to help them access opportunities to support their ambitions and shape their future success."

Donna Graham, Service Lead for Education and Guidance Services at Positive Steps, added: "We are delighted to see the positive participation rates and the continued reduction in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training. These outcomes reflect the ambition and resilience of Oldham's young people, alongside the strength of partnership working across the borough.

"At Positive Steps, we are committed to ensuring that every young person has access to the guidance, support and opportunities they need to make informed choices about their future. We are proud to work alongside Oldham Council, schools, colleges, training providers and employers to help young people progress into meaningful education, training and employment pathways, enabling them to achieve their full potential."

The figures underline the ongoing efforts to support Oldham's young people into sustained education, training and employment, with the borough now outperforming regional and national benchmarks in all key measures.