Legislation introduced to back education reforms
Tom Lloyd
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The government has introduced a bill containing the legislation necessary to raise the school leaving age to 18.
The Education and Skills Bill places a duty on young people to participate in education or training until they become an adult.
It will also bring in the legislation needed to transfer responsibility for advice and guidance services from Connexions partnerships to local education authorities.
The government believes the move will strengthen careers education in schools.
The Bill gives the government the legal power to push through its educational reforms. It wants raise the education and training leaving age to 17 by 2013, and 18 by 2015.
Alongside this it is planning to improve the range of apprenticeships and other non-traditional qualifications that are available.
Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, said: "Let’s be absolutely clear, this is not about forcing young people who want to work while they train to stay at school.
"There will be a range of exciting qualifications and options to go into. Those who want to leave school to begin working at 16 will still be able to do so, as long as they participate in part-time training."
