Raising the Participation Age

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The Education and Skills Act 2008 means that, from 2013, all young people must stay in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17, and until at least their 18th birthday from 2015. The change in law is intended to lead these young people to achieve national qualifications.

Are you an employer? Read the implications for businesses employing young people.

Raising the Participation Age (RPA) to age 18 does not mean raising the school-leaving age. Young people will not have to stay in school; they will be able to choose one of the following main routes open to them:

Full time education eg. school, college or home tuition
Work-based learning eg. an Apprenticeship or
Part-time training alongside working or volunteering, for more than 20 hours per week

Learning Community Roadshow

Staff involved with Foundation Learning and Raising the Participation Age recently joined forces to promote the opportunities available to young people post 16. Find out more information

Newsletters

Raising Participation Age Newsletter April 2013 (PDF 598 KB)

Provision of Post-16 Education and Training:

Under the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, local authorities assumed responsibility for commissioning suitable education and training for all 16-19 year olds from the academic year 2011/12.More information.