The Education and Skills Act 2008 increased the minimum age at
which young people in England can leave learning, requiring them to
continue in education or training until the end of the academic
year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday
from 2015. Raising the Participation Age (RPA) does not mean young
people need to stay on in school. It means that young people can
choose one of the following options:
- Full time education, such as School Sixth Form, Sixth Form
College or a Further Education College
- An Apprenticeship, or other work based learning
- Part time education or training if employed, self-employed or
volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.
Raising Participation: Our Approach 2013-2015
(615kb pdf)
This strategy is in the process of being updated.