Next Steps is a longitudinal cohort study that follows the lives of around 16,000 people born in 1989 and 1990 in England. The study began in 2004 and the cohort was selected to be representative of young people in Year 9 (age 14) attending English state and independent schools. Deprived schools were over sampled and pupils from major minority ethnic groups (Indian; Pakistani; Bangladeshi; Black African; Black Caribbean; and Mixed) were over-sampled at pupil level in order to achieve target issued sample numbers of 1,000 in each group. The boost sample at the fourth wave (age 16 to 17 years) included Black Caribbean and African ethnic groups. All cohort members were surveyed annually until 2010, and thereafter at age 25, in 2015 to 2016, and age 32, in 2022 to 2023.