Update on post-16 transport and accommodation developments – 16 June 2025

In April 2025, we released an update on decisions made at the meeting of Full Council on Monday 24 March 2025 in relation to post-16 transport and accommodation. Since this update, as part of our continuing efforts to support our young people and their families as they prepare for post-16 education and training on the mainland, we are pleased to confirm that the following actions have been taken:

• Letters sent to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the nearest state boarding schools

The Council has honoured its commitment to making representations to the ESFA, requesting an increase in the grant paid to the Council; and to the 2 nearest state boarding schools, requesting a special rate for Isles of Scilly children. You can read each of these letters by selecting the links below:

Letter from the Council to the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Letter from the Council to Richard Huish College
Letter from the Council to Exeter Maths School

A meeting has been arranged as a result of a response received from Exeter Maths School and we will update the community on any further outcomes as we become aware of them.

• Digital post-16 information booklet published

We have reviewed and updated our Post-16 Information Booklet in line with feedback from parents and young people following consultation on our Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2025/26. This booklet provides information for parents and carers preparing their child for post-16 education or training on the mainland, including applying for the travel and accommodation grant.

A link to our Post-16 Information Booklet is published on the ‘Schools and colleges’ page of our website. Hard copies can be requested by emailing post16@scilly.gov.uk to arrange for collection from the Children’s Services office.

If you would like to discuss individual arrangements for your child, please visit the Children’s Services office at Carn Gwaval or call the team on 0300 1234 105 (option 5).

• Introduction of a ‘Strengthening Families Practitioner Transition Support’ role

In response to recent feedback from young people and families, we’re currently recruiting to a ‘Transition Support’ role to our Strengthening Families team in Children’s Services. This role is designed to support our young people aged 14-18 – and up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – as they move into post-16 education or training on the mainland.

The role will be based in Cornwall, where the successful applicant will offer targeted support to a range of students, focusing on resilience-building and preparation for adulthood in line with the SEND code of Practice.

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in this important role, please visit the jobs section of our website to find out more and apply.

• Development of a wider apprenticeship and work placement offer on the islands

We're working with the business community and other local services to develop opportunities for young people on the islands, such as apprenticeships and other work placements, in recognition of the fact that not all young people wish to go on to college or 6th form education at the age of 16.

Understanding "Not in Education, Employment, or Training" (NEET) figures for 16 and 17-year-olds resident on the Isles of Scilly

The Council has a statutory duty to track the education, employment and training activities of young people aged 15 to 18 years old and report the findings to the Department for Education. Those young people not engaged in these are identified as NEET. The exceptional circumstances of Isles of Scilly, where population numbers are low, mean that local NEET data is proportionately higher when compared with national NEET data. We can confirm there are currently four young people who are recorded as NEET between the ages of 16-24 on the Isles of Scilly. Table 1 (below) is taken from the Department for Education data release for England and shows the NEET figures for the last 4 years for 16–17-year-olds.  

We have highlighted this data in this news item in order to dispel inaccurate information which is currently in circulation within the community. We want to ensure that young people on Scilly are not misled about this data and remain confident that we are proud of, and are working hard to support, each and every one of them.

Table 1: Participation in education, training and NEET age 16 to 17 by local authority (Isles of Scilly and England). Source: Create your own tables - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK (13-06-2025).