Briefing: the children leaving school with nothing

This briefing looks at the children who get to age 19 – the end of free education – without getting 5 GCSEs (grade A*-C) or equivalent technical qualifications. These are children who will have spent 15 years in compulsory education, often having more than £100,000 of public money spent on their education and yet leave the education system without basic benchmark qualifications. These children have multiple options closed to them. Many will not be able to begin an apprenticeship, start technical courses or enter some workplaces because they cannot meet the basic entry requirements.