Education leaving age

What is the school leaving age?

In the UK, the government determines the duration of compulsory education, with the minimum school leaving age set down in an Act of parliament. The school leaving age has increased steadily since state-sponsored education was first recognised as a right for all children in the UK. Originally set at ten, it now stands at 16, with the possibility of a further extension.

Background

The Elementary Education Act 1870, also known as Forster's Education Act, recognised a framework of education for children between five and 13. It was founded on the need to improve the skills of the British workforce, maintaining competitiveness, and also preparing them for their new found voting rights.

The 1870 Act created elected school boards, which required attendance and could fine parents for their child's absence, with some exemptions including distance from school. School boards were abolished in the Belfour Act 1902 and replaced by Local Education Authorities.

An 1880 Act made education compulsory until the age of ten, following campaigning by the National Education League. Under the Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act 1893 it was increased to 11 and the right to education was extended to deaf and blind children. In 1899 the leaving age was increased again to 13.

The Fisher Education Act 1918 made education compulsory up until 14 years old, paving the way for increased tertiary education. Growing public debate on the role of education prompted government-commissioned inquiries into further reform. The Hadow committee subsequently recommended the distinction of infant and junior classes and maximum class sizes of 30.

In 1939 the government considered raising the leaving age again to 15, but this was delayed due to the onset of World War Two. The Education Act 1944 did succeeded in extending compulsory education to 15, and this took effect from 1947. More significantly, the 1944 Act created the grammar school system. All 11-year-olds were required to sit the 11-plus examination, which placed them in either an academic grammar school or a secondary modern.

Preparations began in 1964 to raise the leaving age again to 16, and this took effect in 1972. This has remained the case, meaning in practice children are compelled to attend school until their GCSEs.

In 2006 the government announced it was actively considering increasing the leaving age to 18. In 2007 the Department for Education and Skills launched a consultation, working towards an implementation date of 2013. Unlike previous changes to the school leaving age, this would raise the age when young people could leave education. Pupils would not be required to remain in formal, academic education but could instead pursue vocational courses or part-time on the job training.

Controversies

The concept of state education for all children proved controversial from its onset, regardless of the scope and duration of this education. Prior to the 1870 Forster Act education was provided on an ad hoc basis with a strong input from the Church. It also distinctly favoured the children of the middle and upper classes who were educated at fee paying schools.

The National Education League, established in 1869, set out as a founding objective the establishment of a system that would educate every child in England and Wales. Its lobbying led to the 1870 Act, which created school boards funded through local rates. The 1870 Act also responded to economic and social necessities, recognising the need for an educated workforce if Britain was to retain its industry and competitiveness. The Reform Act 1867 had also significantly increased the electorate, extending suffrage to working class men. Reformers argued the new voting power required a more educated working class.

However, many remained hostile to the idea of educating the working class, fearing it could destabilise the class system and ferment dissent. Others warned of the indoctrination risk of mass education. The Act also allowed parents to withdraw their children from religious education, potentially undermining the role of the Church.

Many families themselves objected to compulsory education, arguing they needed children to earn a wage. Each subsequent increase to the school leaving age was therefore met with fresh criticism as families "lost" another economically active member for a year or more. Unsurprisingly the 1880 Act also established attendance officers to enforce attendance and parents could be fined for keeping their children out of school.

There are practical problems of raising the school leaving age, as each increase creates a "gap year" of students who are suddenly in education for an additional year. Schools are required to deal with a significantly enlarged student body and this can create logistical problems with staff and classroom numbers.

The 1964 Education Act allowed LEAs to create middle schools. This helped schools manage capacity problems as pupils spent a year longer at primary school and came to secondary school later. There are now fewer than 400 middle schools in England, concentrated in 22 LEAs.

After the 1972 Act schools were provided with temporary buildings to house their new final year. These became known as ROSLA (Raising school leaving age) buildings and were delivered to schools as self assembly packs. Although not designed for long-term use, many schools continued using them.

There is also scepticism that the school leaving age is increased at times when the government wishes to reduce the number of young people seeking employment, and thereby increasing the unemployment statistics.

The latest ambitions to increase the education leaving age to 18 have not been without controversy. Education secretary Alan Johnson defended the proposals. Pointing to a decline in unskilled jobs, he said young people must be equipped to meet the demands of modern employment. The number of unskilled jobs has halved from around eight million in 1960 to 3.5 million today, and between 2001 and 2004 it is estimated ten per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds were not engaged in employment, education or training.

Teaching groups initially reacted angrily to the proposals, questioning how the government intended to enforce the new increased leaving age – although this would have been a factor for all previous governments to consider.

Other critics said the government needed to look at why young people were opting out of education at 16, pointing out that many people already required to remain in education until 16 left without formal qualifications.

Statistics

Between 2001 and 2004 up to ten per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds were classified as NEET – Not Engaged in Employment, Education or Training.

Statistic 1: (Source: Commons education and skills select committee 2007.)

Quotes

"It's not good for the economy or for young people if they leave school at 16 without the skills they need to succeed in the world of work. As a nation we've toyed with the idea for almost a hundred years, now is the time to make it a reality for all."

Alan Johnson, education secretary, March 2007.