The Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education said the "work-focused" learning programme proposed in last week's white paper on education reform could mean thousands of young people would still miss out on their education.
Director Mark Vaughan said: "It is not necessarily the best solution because it cuts short education and brings forward a young person's arrival in the world of work. That cannot be good for all so-called disaffected teenagers."
He called on the Department for Education and Skills to think carefully about how it introduces the new programme, warning against an apprenticeship as a substitute for education.
"It would be very sad if a whole swathe of youngsters were taken out of education early for reasons of expediency," he added.
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