School leaving age may rise to 18

12 April 2012

Pupils could have to stay in education until the age of 18 under plans being considered by Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

If adopted, it would be the first time the school leaving age has changed since 1972, when it was raised to 16.

The change, which would take place by 2013, would force all youngsters to stay at school, start an apprenticeship or begin workplace training.

Ten-year-olds who enter secondary school next year would be the first to be affected by the new regime.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) confirmed that plans were being considered but stopped short of saying they would certainly happen.

It is thought that the proposals, which will affect around 330,000 pupils, will be published by the Government in a Green Paper this spring.

The change will help to tackle the problem of youngsters leaving education without the skills to help them in the workplace, according to the DfES.

But the National Union of Teachers (NUT) warned that the proposals were not to be taken lightly and would take an "enormous investment in the education service".

Plans for raising the school leaving age were reportedly discussed in meetings between the DfES, the Treasury, teachers' leaders and business representatives.

Mr Johnson said: "It should be as unacceptable to see a 16-year-old working, with no training, no education, as it is now to see a 14-year-old."

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