The Bill will raise the education and training leaving age to 18 by 2015. The Bill not only legislates for raising the participation age but also includes the transfer to local authorities who will be required to promote young people's participation and to support them to find appropriate education and training opportunities.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:
"These are the biggest reforms in education, training and skills in a generation. By 2015 every young person will be in some form of education or training until the age of 18 and there will be a range of free training beyond that.
There will be a range of exciting qualifications and options to go into, including new Diplomas and 90,000 more apprenticeship places. 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."
Major steps toward preparing for 100 per cent participation, to ensure young people are encouraged and supported in staying on, are already well under way. The first Diplomas will be available from 2008 and there are now 17 Diplomas in train, three of which are academic.
RLB are already engaged in responding to this challenge. We are providing Peterborough City Council with consultancy advice in the scoping and procurement of a new 14-19 skills centre which will deliver a range of diplomas such as those referred to above.
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