Thousands of teens ‘turning backs on school’

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are "hostile" to school and rejecting education, a government report warned today.

One in five 15 and 16-year-olds are seriously "disengaged", refuse to accept rules and dislike teachers.

They are at risk of dropping out, taking drugs and committing crime, and face a bleak future, said the study.

The report was published as separate figures showed that poor white British boys were falling further behind their classmates in GCSE results.

The findings come as ministers prepare to launch their flagship "Neets" strategy, aimed at cutting the numbers of teenagers "not in education, employment or training".

In a blow to the Government's record on tackling teenage drop-outs, researchers found:

Fewer teenagers were committed to further study after GCSEs.

A quarter of 14-16-year-olds were "disengaged" with school and more likely to skip classes.

Twenty per cent of 15 and 16-year-olds were "seriously disengaged". They were most likely to be white boys from poor homes.

The report from the National Centre for Social Research was commissioned by the Department for Children. It said: "Disengaged young people are far less likely to aspire to continue with full-time education. They are also much more likely to play truant. Over a third leave school with little or no qualifications. These young people are far more likely to engage in risky behaviour: 43 per cent drink regularly, and over half have tried cigarettes and/or cannabis. A fifth have also engaged in crimes against property, and nearly two-fifths in fights."

Separate figures reinforced the difficulties faced by white working-class boys. Fewer than one in five white British boys from the poorest homes achieved five C grades in GCSEs.

This meant that the gap between working-class white boys and other pupils widened since 2006.

Liberal Democrat schools spokesman David Laws said the figures were "shameful". He added: "The gap is growing between the poorest pupils and their wealthier classmates."

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker insisted results were improving overall. "But we are not complacent and are determined that every single pupil gets the support they need," he added.