91% of Cumbrian 16 and 17 year olds in education, employment or training - MP

More than 91% of Cumbrian 16- and 17-year-olds were actively participating in education, employment or training at the end of December according to figures released by the Department for Education. Cumbria MP Tim Farron has welcomed these figures and pointed out the desperate need for funding for post-16 school transport for Cumbria.

The figures show that 91.7% of 16- and 17-year-olds were in education, employment or training at the end of December 2014. Tim specifically welcomed the fact that over 1 in 10 young people in Cumbria are now taking up apprenticeship placements. He believes this shows that his campaign to boost apprenticeships is really paying off.

Nationally, the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) from October to December had reached its lowest level since 2007.

Tim said: "Over 90% of our 16 or 17 year olds are in school or college, employment, or an apprenticeship placement. This is great news and is higher than the national average. What was really pleasing for me, was the news that over one in ten of local 16 and 17 year olds are taking up an apprenticeship placement. This shows our work and campaigning to try and give vocational and skills education the parity with academic subjects is starting to pay off.

"The other thing that these figures show is we need the Government to also help us in funding post 16 school transport. It is wrong that parents have to pay hundreds of pounds to get their son or daughter to school. I will keep urging the government to do more to fund this vital service, which I believe should be free."