TOO many teenagers currently fail their GCSEs, too many school leavers are not in education, employment or training and too many adults are unemployed.

Southampton's school report and working practices do not make good reading at the moment with the city failing to match, let alone beat, any of the national averages for the above.

Fast forward by 20 years to 2026 and council bosses hope it will be a different picture.

They want to transform Southampton into an international centre for learning and development led by the city's two universities.

They also want the city to become a "talent magnet" with universities, colleges and employers attracting new people and businesses.

One of the ways they hope to do this is by transforming the school system by creating learning campuses - a concept designed to break down barriers between primary, secondary and further education.

Education bosses have already taken the first step with proposals to reorganise Southampton's secondary education system with the closure of Millbrook, Oaklands, Woolston and Grove Park schools.

They also want to develop both academic and vocational options for every age group, encourage youngsters into business, and encourage those with low skills into the jobs market.

Key trends identified leading up to 2026 will be to increase the percentage of the working population educated to degree level from 24 per cent to 40 per cent in the city.

Another area identified for expansion is the marine sector.

Underlying the plan is the council's long-term vision to ensure that Southampton is a city where everyone is "encouraged" and "supported" in developing a "passion for lifelong learning and skills development".