Due to legislation introduced in 2013, the law now requires that young people participate in education, training and employment until the age of 18 - known as the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA). The school-leaving age is still 16, but RPA is designed to be an extra measure to ensure they continue to learn or train until they are 18.
Why has the participation age been raised?
This change was introduced based on the following perceived advantages to remaining in education or training for longer: it offers the opportunity for young people to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical setting; it improves career and life prospects; and it decreases the likelihood of a young person committing a crime or behaving anti-socially.
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