raising school leaving age england wales raising school leaving age shortened given government refer changes legal age child permitted leave compulsory education usually falling education act countries school leaving age reflects young people seen mature society necessarily old regarded adult england wales age raised numerous times introduction compulsory education september age raised following preparations began years earlier increased legal leaving age leaving gap year school law complete additional year education onwards reasons government wish increase school leaving age considering raised age numerous times 19th 20th centuries time past age reasons given focused mainly generating skilled labour providing additional time students gain additional skills qualifications recent years apparent year olds motivated continue education completion increasing overall unemployment rate unable find work british government hoped making education compulsory age change 19th century prior 19th century schools existed run church church stressing religious education 19th century compulsory attendance school ceased matter local option introduction elementary education act milestone british school education system children attend ages local discretion early leaving agricultural areas introduction elementary education act applying england wales commonly known having drawn created concept compulsory education children thirteen didn insist compulsory attendance initially required provision education children years age areas education considered problem elected school boards set boards discretion create local laws confirmed parliament require attendance fine parents children attend illness living certain distance typically mile school certification having reached required standard varied board mandatory england wales act elementary education act insisted compulsory attendance years poorer families ensuring children attended school proved difficult send working opportunity earn extra income available attendance officers visited homes children failed attend school proved ineffective children age employed required certificate reached educational standard employers children weren able act brought force thirteen years later went act stated raised minimum leaving age later year act extended blind deaf children previously means official education act later amended raise school leaving age years age 20th century start 20th century saw school boards abolished replaced local education authorities use present day fisher act year saw introduction education act commonly known fisher act devised act enforced compulsory education years included provision compulsory time education year olds plans expansion education raising participation age dropped cuts public spending world war act starting planning provisions young people remain education age act implemented act passed butler post war education changes introduced education act changes including introduction system included raising school leaving age act brought effect september implemented effects world war eventually enforced april comprehensive school system replaced system brought act england act recommended compulsory time education children age dropped similar fashion act cut spending world war reasons changes government approaches education meant longer regarded adequate child leave education aged age seen understand appreciate value education period height beginning seen worst age sudden switch education employment concerns effects having labour children hoped outcome larger quantity qualified skilled workers eliminate deficit problem loss labour effects act introduced concept famous examination determined child entitled schooling grammar school secondary modern technical college system examination devised phased majority united_kingdom england northern_ireland league tables published march existing grammar schools country comprehensive schools changes society approaches education including equal opportunities meant children deserve education learn slower rate child opportunity gain secondary school level qualifications similar regardless background intelligence leaving age raised preparations began raise school leaving age delayed eventually decision taken new upper age limit enforced september onwards raising school leaving age year saw introduction act allowing organise work experience additional final year school students counties country changes led introduction middle schools students kept primary junior school additional year meaning number students secondary schools areas remained virtually constant change radical changes led middle schools pupils aged opening smaller secondary school buildings schools students fewer middle schools england situated local education authorities number remaining middle schools gradually fallen mid-1980s buildings secondary schools england wales areas new 5th year students struggle popular solution provide schools pre fabricated building referred blocks need additional capacity providing resources cope new generation 5th year students solution proved popular schools country low cost involved materials construction speed buildings erected supplied buildings delivered schools self assembly packs assembled team days regardless weather conditions consequently intended stand long term proven stood longer initially planned buildings shared similar exterior attributes design difference separation rooms building room separation building decided senior school management walls false added construction majority schools england wales replaced building site numerous schools country actively buildings schools standing building isn use serve youth centres community simply derelict majority demolished extensively refurbished education act minimum school leaving arrangements child sixteenth birthday falls period september january inclusive leave compulsory schooling end spring term following easter child sixteenth birthday falls period february august leave friday monday section education act new single school leaving date set subsequent years set friday june school year child reaches age 21st century education skills act reports published november suggested education secretary exploring ways raise school leaving age england years later rise pointing decline jobs need young people equipped modern day employment participation age year later november prime minister unveiled government plans queen speech plans included duty parents assist children education training participation date 18th birthday detailing proposed moves reform system improve achievement children care education came force academic year initially required participation form education training school year child turned followed age raised young person 18th birthday referred raising participation age distinguish school leaving age remains qualify participation young person education training equivalent day week minimum local council responsible ensuring suitable place available act makes similar powers available spokesperson indicated want encourage young people stay education school required continue education training reasons figures published june showing young people aged education training meaning rise affect young people sought employment immediately finishing compulsory education specifically state young people remain secondary school law required continue education time sixth form college work based training year olds stay time academic education government financed training course survey people supported plans age increase reports published showed year olds remain time education declines time reach majority finding employment fewer going employment training relevance small increase unemployed time reach government hoped reduce act cases unemployment government believes toughest education employment training additional year olds fell category proportion rose year olds practice young people classified time aged training employment classification percentage classified fell lowest figure government believed changes needed collapse jobs economy means young school years age finding increasingly difficult find employment cases making years number jobs available million 1960s present day predictions drops increasing demand skilled labour fewer students continuing education increase difficulty young school find work able chose stay school complete education opposition whilst government eager implement changes oppose proposal civil liberties grounds compulsory school attendance usually justified reference argument minors incapable making sufficiently reasoned choices age group falls grey area regarded effectively adult number contexts jurisdictions scotland individuals considered reach maturity proposal criminal sanctions enforce attendance new system opposed mps conservatives liberal democrats believed threats wrong approach increasing participation spokesperson said proposals forcing young people don want letting young people allow leave education training skills age prime minister queen speech november discussed raise school leaving age suggested pupils failed comply new laws expected face fines community service sentencing previously proposed local authorities expected ensure pupils participating years age effects downward trend number jobs available country continuing government believes extension compulsory education age mean young people leave education better position find skilled employment speaking march chancellor stated teenagers paid training sign college based courses estimates available number available double available england increase current available offered employers speaking june labour chairman education skills select committee says young people education biggest social problems facing modern government government hopeful changes effect preventing increase crime levels currently substantial percentage young people leaving school turning life crime unable find suitable work lack skills qualifications
Raising of school leaving age in England and Wales