In a book to be published by the Social Market Foundation think-tank tomorrow (27 March), Professor Alan Smithers says the idea is based on the "simplistic notion that more education for more is better".
He argues the policy of keeping young people in education or training until they are 18 ignores differences in their biological development and questions whether vocational qualifications will help them to find jobs.
The University of Buckingham researcher also said the move would do little to help teenagers not in employment, education or training. "Occupying them by keeping them in education and training has the same superficial appeal as it did in the 19th century, but it is unlikely to benefit many of the young people themselves," he said.
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