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青少年辍学问题在英国由来已久。
政府统计数据显示，在英国某些地区，17岁的青少年中有近一半放弃接受全日制教育或培训。统计数据显示，瑟罗克和索尔福德分别有49%和44%的学生选择辍学，或放弃职业培训。而英国全国则有31%的17岁的青少年目前不在上学或接受培训。
统计数据表明“辍学”现象的地区差异很大，较为富裕的地区如里士满和哈罗，17岁的青少年中有18%不在校接受正规教育。
从统计数据可以看出，英国青少年的在校比率很低，在世界上处于较低水平。
在经济合作与发展组织进行的排名中，英国的辍学率在工业化国家中排在“最糟糕”的行列。从各个地区来看，数据表明约克郡和汉伯地区17岁青少年的辍学率最高，达到35%。这些辍学的学生包括不接受全日制教育和职业培训的学生。
伦敦市郊学生的在校比率最高，17岁的青少年中有27%辍学。而在英国东部，辍学率达到31%，西南地区则达29%。
自由民主党补习教育大臣爱德华·戴维说，有这么多的青少年辍学，政府应该为此而“羞愧”。
戴维说课程的设置应该更适合青年人的口味，并重申自由民主党支持汤姆林森委员会提议的课程改革计划。
教育和技能部的一名发言人称，政府已经进行了一系列的改革，并且又投入了25亿英镑，作为继续教育的基金。
他说，2004年9月，英国政府出台了“教育维持金”计划，这项计划旨在激励青少年重返课堂。“教育维持金”每周向那些达到法定离校年龄后，还继续留在学校或重返学校继续受教育的学生支付一定的补助，补助金额为10英镑、20英镑和30英镑不等。
England has a longstanding problem with youngsters dropping out of training.
Almost half of 17 year olds in some parts of England have dropped out of full-time education or training, government figures reveal.
The statistics show 49% in Thurrock and 44% in Salford have opted out of school or vocational training.
Across England, 31% of 17 year olds are not in education or training.
The figures also reveal deep regional divides, with wealthier areas such as Richmond and Harrow recording 18% of 17 year olds out of official education.
The statistics confirms England's poor international standing for staying-on rates in education.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranks England's drop-out rates as among the worst among industrialised countries.
Regionally, the statistics show Yorkshire and the Humber has the highest rate of 17 year olds not in full-time education or work-based training at 35%.
Outer London has the highest staying-on rate, with 27% of 17 year olds having opted out of official learning.
In the East of England this figure stands at 31% and at 29% in the South West.
Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, said the government "should be ashamed" that so many youngsters were dropping out of school.
Mr Davey said lessons need to be made more relevant to young people and reiterated his party's backing for the curriculum reforms proposed by the Tomlinson committee.
A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said the government had implemented a series of reforms, with a ￡2.5bn rise in funding for further education
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which was introduced in September 2004, was also encouraging young people to stay in education, he added. The EMA is a weekly payment of ￡10, ￡20 or ￡30, paid directly to eligible young people who stay on in, or return to, further education after they reach the statutory school leaving age.
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