Caerphilly has recorded one of Wales’s lowest rates of young people who are not in education, employment or training, according to information presented to councillors.
An estimated 3.4% of young people in the county borough had no post-16 placement during the latest school year, placing Caerphilly second only to one other Welsh local authority.
The figure was included in a wider report assessing the council’s work to improve social, economic and environmental wellbeing, including its support for children’s education.
The NEET rate has remained under 4% for the past four years and fell to 2.4% in 2024.
By comparison, research by the Senedd estimated the rate across Wales at 13.7% during the corresponding period.
Members of Caerphilly Council’s cross-party joint scrutiny committee were told in March that the council supports young people throughout the year rather than limiting contact to school terms.
Unannounced visits to young people have also become an important means of tracking their progress towards employment, further education or training.
The report was presented to the committee on Tuesday, October 20.
Cabinet member for finance and performance Cllr Eluned Stenner said the low NEET rate reflected the council’s determination to ensure young people could access suitable education, training and employment opportunities.
She also described investment in children and young people as one of the Labour-led council’s principal responsibilities.
Cllr Carol Andrews, cabinet member for education, credited the Youth Service, schools, training providers and partner organisations with helping young people pursue suitable opportunities.
She said the council intended to maintain and build on the progress recorded while ensuring support remained available to young people from different backgrounds and circumstances.
The committee also considered concerns about young people’s reliance on technology.
Green Party councillor Sean Morgan cited UK links between increased use of devices such as smartphones and weaker performance in standardised tests.
Although he regarded computers as valuable educational resources and as essential during the Covid-19 pandemic, he believed the available evidence suggested that learning through this approach could create future difficulties.
Education director Paul Warren said the debate over digital learning and physical books should be approached with balance.
He noted that children develop reading skills from a range of sources and said information technology should support teaching and learning rather than serve simply as a means of occupying pupils.