New data also shows the borough has reduced the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training.
The latest Department for Education figures for the 2025 to 2026 academic year show that 93.2 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds in Oldham are taking part in education and training.
That represents an increase of 2.8 percentage points compared with the previous year and is above both the North West average of 91.8 per cent and the England average of 92.2 per cent.
Oldham's combined rate of young people who are not in education, employment or training, or whose status is not known, has fallen to 4.6 per cent. This is down 1.1 percentage points from the previous year and below the North West average of 5.5 per cent and the England average of 5.8 per cent.
The figures also show that only 59 of the borough's 7,177 young people aged 16 and 17 have an unknown destination, representing 0.8 per cent of the total. This compares with 1.3 per cent across the North West and 2.4 per cent nationally.
Oldham Council said the results reflected partnership working with the charity Positive Steps, which provides careers advice, guidance and support to help young people move into education, training or employment. The charity also supports young adults aged between 19 and 25 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
A council spokesperson said, "These figures demonstrate the positive impact of the support available to young people across Oldham.
"This is a testament to the dedication and partnership working across the borough to give every young person the best start in life, with Positive Steps, our schools, colleges, training providers, employers and council services working together to help them access opportunities to support their ambitions and shape their future success."
Donna Graham, Service Lead for Education and Guidance Services at Positive Steps, said, "We are delighted to see the positive participation rates and the continued reduction in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training. These outcomes reflect the ambition and resilience of Oldham's young people, alongside the strength of partnership working across the borough.
"At Positive Steps, we are committed to ensuring that every young person has access to the guidance, support and opportunities they need to make informed choices about their future. We are proud to work alongside Oldham Council, schools, colleges, training providers and employers to help young people progress into meaningful education, training and employment pathways, enabling them to achieve their full potential."
