Pupils believe they'll 'end up on benefits' after leaving school with poor exam results

One in six young people believe they will “end up on benefits” after leaving school, according to research published today.

A study of 2,342 16 to 25-year-olds by the Prince’s Trust youth charity also reveals that one in five “abandoned their ambitions” after getting poor exam results from their schooling.

The survey, supported by HSBC, comes in a fortnight when more than half a million 16-year-olds are due to receive their GCSE results.

“Thousands of young people’s ambitions are crushed by exam results each year,” said Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince’s Trust. “Many of these young people have faced problems at home or bullying at school so their exam results don’t reflect their true potential.”

The survey also showed that more than one in four young people (28 per cent) who left school at 16 regretted their decision to leave and 30 per cent said the “had no direction in life” after quitting at 16. A common comment was they “had nothing to get up for in the morning”.

The Trust is calling on employers, charities and the Government to work together to find them vocational support and training to help them find employment. “Without this, thousands will struggle to compete, leaving them hopeless and jobless,” said Ms Milburn.

The trust offers support for disadvantaged 13 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. It gives them practical and financial support to help them move into employment.