Theo Hosts House of Lords Reception to Launch British Dyslexia Association Report
Theo Paphitis and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) officially launched Pathway Interrupted at the House of Lords, a critical new report supported by Ryman that exposes how the education system is leaving dyslexic young people behind.
The research reveals a devastating chain reaction: late or missed dyslexia diagnoses lead to poor in-school support, which damages confidence, narrows career routes, and pushes far too many young people into becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
The Reality for Dyslexic Youth
With over one million young people in the UK currently classified as NEET, this report highlights that dyslexia cannot be ignored in the conversation around youth employment. Behind the data are real lived experiences of young people who feel abandoned by an overly academic system:
Diagnosis Delays: Only 1 in 3 dyslexic young people are diagnosed at primary school.
Lack of Understanding: 54% of respondents say their teachers did not have enough understanding of dyslexia.
Restricted Futures: 70% feel school actively limited their education, training, and career opportunities.
Workplace Anxiety: 87% believe the job application process disadvantages dyslexic people, and 77% worry about disclosing their dyslexia to an employer.
Theo Paphitis, Vice President of the British Dyslexia Association, said:
“This report shines a light on a group of young people who are too often overlooked. Too many dyslexic young people leave education and then lose their way, falling into the gap between school, further education, training and work. We do not even know how many NEET young people are dyslexic. Many will never have been identified. If we are serious about tackling the NEET crisis, dyslexia cannot be left out of the conversation.”
Ellen Broomé, CEO of the British Dyslexia Association, said:
“We are failing too many dyslexic young people at a critical point in their lives, wasting talent, skills and potential that our society needs. With more than one million young people currently NEET in the UK, this is a huge, missed opportunity, for young people and for society.
A Call for Urgent Change
The current system is wasting talent that businesses and society desperately need. The BDA, championed by Theo and Ryman, is calling for immediate systemic changes to ensure dyslexia is never a barrier to success:
Early Screening: A national pathway for early dyslexia diagnosis.
Fast-Track Support: Rapid identification for those diagnosed later in school or post-16 education.
Empowered Educators: Mandatory teacher training to strengthen support across all educational settings.
Fair Testing: Alternative assessment methods for GCSEs and A-Levels.
Inclusive Workplaces: The DWP Disability Confident programme must include employer guidance on dyslexia-friendly recruitment.
To dive deeper into the findings and hear directly from the young people interviewed, read the full Pathway Interrupted report on the British Dyslexia Association website: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news/bda-new-report-pathway-interrupted-report