Oldham is bucking the national trend with more young people choosing to stay in education and training, according to the latest government figures.

The new Department for Education data for the 2025/26 academic year shows that 93.2 per cent of the borough's 16 and 17-year-olds are participating in education or training. This marks a 2.8 percentage point increase from the previous year and puts Oldham ahead of both the North West average of 91.8 per cent and the England average of 92.2 per cent.

At the same time, the number of young people in Oldham who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) has continued to fall. The combined NEET and ‘Not Known’ rate now stands at 4.6 per cent, down 1.1 percentage points from the 2024/25 academic year. This is significantly lower than the North West average of 5.5 per cent and the England average of 5.8 per cent.

The figures also highlight the success of partnership working in Oldham, particularly with the charity Positive Steps, which provides support, careers advice and guidance to young people after they leave school. This support continues up to age 25 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

One of the most striking aspects of the data is how well Oldham tracks its young people. Only 59 individuals out of 7,177 in the cohort are currently unaccounted for – just 0.8 per cent of the borough's young people. This is well below the North West average of 1.3 per cent and the England average of 2.4 per cent.

A spokesperson for Oldham Council 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."

The spokesperson added that Positive Steps, along with local schools, colleges, training providers, employers and council services, are all working together to help young people access opportunities that support their ambitions.

Donna Graham, Service Lead for Education and Guidance Services at Positive Steps, said: "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."

She added: "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."

These latest figures underline Oldham's commitment to supporting its young people and giving them the best possible start in life, with the borough continuing to outperform both regional and national averages.