Raising the Participation Age
The Greater
Background and Context
The Education and Skills Act 2009 means that from 2013 all young people will be required to continue in education or training to the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013, and until their 18th birthday from 2015.
Raising the Participation Age (RPA) to age 18 does not mean raising the school leaving age rather the following routes will be open to young people:
- Full time education eg. school, college or home tuition
- Work based learning eg. an Apprenticeship or
- Part time training alongside working or volunteering for over 20 hours per week
There is an expectation that all such education and or training will lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Whilst the change of government following the May General Election has resulted in changes to the education and training landscape as yet there has been no change to RPA legislation. Even if this change occurs Raising Participation remains a priority for the SRG.
Figures for the participation of 17 year olds in education, training and employment, 1998 – 2008 “show a record 85%of 16 and 17 year olds participating in education or work-based learning (around1.13 million young people)”. However, there are still “too many young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) and entering jobs without training (JWT). In addition, participation at 17 (80%) is much lower than at 16 (90%). Young people who participate at 16 and then leave are just as likely to end up in a JWT or NEET at 19 as those who did not participate at all at 16.” (Raising the Participation Age: supporting local areas to deliver, DCSF, 2009, page 9, para 1.6)
