Thousands of teenagers in England are effectively “under the radar” of official education statistics, according to a report by the Children’s Commissioner which warns that tens of thousands of college students are severely absent from their courses.
The “Hidden NEETs” (Not in Education, Employment or Training) report, released on 9 September 2026 by Dame Rachel de Souza, estimates that 42,000 16 and 17-year-olds are enrolled in Further Education (FE) colleges but attend less than 50% of their scheduled time. Despite this “severe absence,” many remain on college registers, meaning they are not counted in official figures of those missing from the education system.
Data obtained from 262 college groups across England using statutory powers revealed that more than half of students (52.2%) were persistently absent, defined as attending less than 90% of their classes. Unlike secondary schools, FE colleges are not currently mandated to report attendance data to the Department for Education (DfE) in the same way, creating what the Commissioner describes as a significant data “blind spot.”
The West Sussex ‘Blind Spot’
The national findings carry particular weight in West Sussex, where tracking school leavers has proven more difficult than in neighbouring areas. Figures indicate that West Sussex has a 9.3% “unknown” destination rate for young people post-16—a figure significantly higher than the 0.9% recorded in East Sussex.
This high rate of unknown destinations suggests that a substantial number of young people in the Chichester and wider West Sussex area may be disengaged from education or employment without the knowledge of local authorities. Under the Get Sussex Working plan, regional authorities are attempting to address these gaps in youth employment and training.
In her report, the Children’s Commissioner called for the figures to inform the ongoing Milburn Review into youth employment. Colleges involved in the research identified mental health difficulties, poverty, and the rising cost of transport as the primary barriers preventing students from attending their courses regularly.
Support and Monitoring for Local Students
For parents in the Chichester area, the Chichester College Group—the largest FE provider in Sussex—operates its own systems to mitigate these risks. Parents of A-level and vocational students can monitor attendance records through the ‘College Connect’ portal, while the group uses an automated system known as ‘C Space’ to report student absences internally.
The DfE has confirmed it will introduce new attendance monitoring requirements across the FE sector in response to the Commissioner’s findings, aiming to bring college data into line with the standards required of schools.
Practical support remains available for families whose children are struggling to maintain college attendance. The West Sussex SENDIAS Service provides specific guidance for parents of students facing barriers due to special educational needs, disabilities, or long-term health issues. West Sussex County Council also identified attendance as a key priority in its February 2026 Education Matters report, signalling a push for more robust intervention at the local level.