This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/6135516.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| School leaving age may be raised | School leaving age may be raised |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| England's education secretary is said to be exploring ways to raise the school leaving age to 18. | England's education secretary is said to be exploring ways to raise the school leaving age to 18. |
| Alan Johnson told political journalists that "staying on" rates must improve. | Alan Johnson told political journalists that "staying on" rates must improve. |
| He said it was unacceptable for a 16-year-old to be in employment without getting help with continued schooling or training for qualifications. | He said it was unacceptable for a 16-year-old to be in employment without getting help with continued schooling or training for qualifications. |
| An aide said later that ways of overcoming the complex legal problems associated with raising the leaving age were under consideration in Whitehall. | An aide said later that ways of overcoming the complex legal problems associated with raising the leaving age were under consideration in Whitehall. |
| Figures published in June show 76.2% of 16 to 18-year-olds in England are in education or training, rather than in employment. | Figures published in June show 76.2% of 16 to 18-year-olds in England are in education or training, rather than in employment. |
| The leaving age was last raised, from 15 to 16, in 1972. | The leaving age was last raised, from 15 to 16, in 1972. |
| Click here for a history of the changes | Click here for a history of the changes |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| At a Westminster lunch, Mr Johnson said: "Forty, 50, 60 years ago, seeing a 14-year-old at work was perfectly acceptable. | At a Westminster lunch, Mr Johnson said: "Forty, 50, 60 years ago, seeing a 14-year-old at work was perfectly acceptable. |
| "Now it is totally unacceptable. | "Now it is totally unacceptable. |
| "And it should be just as unacceptable to see a 16-year-old just working and not doing anything else, not receiving any training or schooling." | "And it should be just as unacceptable to see a 16-year-old just working and not doing anything else, not receiving any training or schooling." |
| Young people have got to get the qualifications that are necessary for the future Chancellor Gordon Brown | Young people have got to get the qualifications that are necessary for the future Chancellor Gordon Brown |
| Mr Johnson said the UK could learn form other countries, notably Canada, where schemes to encourage young people to stay on in education had proved successful. | Mr Johnson said the UK could learn form other countries, notably Canada, where schemes to encourage young people to stay on in education had proved successful. |
| The matter was the most important facing his department, he said. | The matter was the most important facing his department, he said. |
| "It has all kinds of social ramifications for our citizens ... to engage children in education in a far better way and to end the situation where at the moment they switch off mentally at 14, before leaving school physically at 16, which is why we have got one of the worst staying-on records in the world." | "It has all kinds of social ramifications for our citizens ... to engage children in education in a far better way and to end the situation where at the moment they switch off mentally at 14, before leaving school physically at 16, which is why we have got one of the worst staying-on records in the world." |
| A source close to Mr Johnson later confirmed that the issue was being given active consideration within the education department. | A source close to Mr Johnson later confirmed that the issue was being given active consideration within the education department. |
| It was said to be at an early stage, and legally complex. | It was said to be at an early stage, and legally complex. |
| On a visit to Canada in September, Mr Johnson had been impressed by the way a similar change had been effected in Ontario by a threat to stop youngsters having driving licences if they did not stay in school. | |
| When Chancellor Gordon Brown was asked specifically about the issue while on an educational visit in Nottingham on Friday, he said young people needed qualifications in a post-industrial economy. | When Chancellor Gordon Brown was asked specifically about the issue while on an educational visit in Nottingham on Friday, he said young people needed qualifications in a post-industrial economy. |
| "Young people have got to get the qualifications that are necessary for the future," said Mr Brown. | "Young people have got to get the qualifications that are necessary for the future," said Mr Brown. |
| But on the specific issue of compulsion, he said: "I think what we're talking about is part-time or full-time in college, in school or in the workplace, but with everybody having the chance to stay in education until they are 18." | But on the specific issue of compulsion, he said: "I think what we're talking about is part-time or full-time in college, in school or in the workplace, but with everybody having the chance to stay in education until they are 18." |
| 'Priority' | 'Priority' |
| A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said improving "staying on" rates was a "priority for this government". | A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said improving "staying on" rates was a "priority for this government". |
| "We have already stated our aspiration to increase participation at 17 to at least 90% by 2015 from our current level of around 75% and we want every 16 to 18 year old to take advantage of the range of education and training opportunities available to them. | "We have already stated our aspiration to increase participation at 17 to at least 90% by 2015 from our current level of around 75% and we want every 16 to 18 year old to take advantage of the range of education and training opportunities available to them. |
| "Through new diplomas and the expansion of apprenticeships, we want to make sure that every young person as the opportunity to pursue a learning programme that suits them post-16." | "Through new diplomas and the expansion of apprenticeships, we want to make sure that every young person as the opportunity to pursue a learning programme that suits them post-16." |
| One of the main initiatives to improve "staying on" rates is the education maintenance allowance (EMA). | One of the main initiatives to improve "staying on" rates is the education maintenance allowance (EMA). |
| This gives means-tested payments of up to £30 a week to those who continue studying after 16. | This gives means-tested payments of up to £30 a week to those who continue studying after 16. |
| Home educators point out that, while education is compulsory, schooling is not. | Home educators point out that, while education is compulsory, schooling is not. |
| LEAVING EDUCATION | LEAVING EDUCATION |
| In the latter part of the 19th Century, compulsory attendance at school ceased to be a matter for local option. Children had to attend between the ages of five and 10 though with some local discretion such as early leaving in agricultural areas. | In the latter part of the 19th Century, compulsory attendance at school ceased to be a matter for local option. Children had to attend between the ages of five and 10 though with some local discretion such as early leaving in agricultural areas. |
| 1893 - leaving age raised to 11 1899 - leaving age raised to 12 1918 - full-time education compulsory from 5 to 14, exemptions dropped1936 - leaving age to be raised to 15 from 1939, not implemented because of the outbreak of war1944 - legislation to enable raising leaving age to 15, and 16 "as soon as it was practicable"1947 - leaving age raised to 151959 - report recommending leaving age of 16 1963 - another report recommended 161964 - preparations for change begin1968 - change postponed 1971 - leaving age raised to 16 from September 19721997 - all children must remain in education until the last schoolday in June in the year they turn 16 | 1893 - leaving age raised to 11 1899 - leaving age raised to 12 1918 - full-time education compulsory from 5 to 14, exemptions dropped1936 - leaving age to be raised to 15 from 1939, not implemented because of the outbreak of war1944 - legislation to enable raising leaving age to 15, and 16 "as soon as it was practicable"1947 - leaving age raised to 151959 - report recommending leaving age of 16 1963 - another report recommended 161964 - preparations for change begin1968 - change postponed 1971 - leaving age raised to 16 from September 19721997 - all children must remain in education until the last schoolday in June in the year they turn 16 |
| (Source: DfES) | (Source: DfES) |
| Back to main text | Back to main text |