Next Steps is one of the biggest and most important studies of your generation anywhere in the world.
It began following 16,000 young people, born in 1989-1990, who were in Year 9 in 2004 at state or independent secondary schools across England.
From the time you turned 14, the study has gathered information on different aspects of your lives, including family, friends, health, housing, education, jobs, what you do in your spare time, your neighbourhoods, and your hopes for the future.
Now you are an adult, we have continued to ask you about those things, as well as your careers, finances, relationships and marriage, parenthood, and your attitudes and beliefs.
We hope to keep following you throughout your lives, building a complete picture of what life is like for your generation.
Next Steps is helping researchers, policy makers and others understand what life is like for your generation. Read more about what Next Steps is trying to achieve.
Next Steps was originally set up to chart young people’s changes through secondary school and onto further education, training or the workplace. As you’ve become adults, the study has changed. Read more about the history of Next Steps.
Next Steps is run by an organisation called the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Social Research Institute. It’s funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Read more about Next Steps’ management and funding.
Managing a study this big requires many different jobs – our team is made up of researchers, survey specialists, data managers and communications staff. Read more about the people who work on the study.
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The information you have provided has informed government policy on a wide range of issues, and ultimately helped bring about changes in schools, colleges and services for all young people. Read more about what we’ve learned.
