The policy commitment in England to raise the participation age (RPA) for continuing in learning for all 17-year olds from 2013 and for all 18-year olds from 2015, brings with it the responsibility of ensuring that education and training are available, accessible and relevant to the needs of all types of learners. In recent years, little policy focus has been given to young people who leave education at the end of compulsory schooling to enter "jobs without training" (JWT). Furthermore, there appears to be scant understanding of their transition into the labour market or of their aspirations. As a result, recognition of their needs and appropriate support mechanisms are conspicuous by their absence. Drawing on data from two recent studies of the JWT group, this article seeks to lift the lid on the post-16 education and training agenda, and its neglect of this group. It concludes with a series of recommendations of how this issue must be addressed if the drive to RPA is to be implemented successfully. (Contains 3 notes and 1 table.)