Staying on at school
15 August 2008
The pressure is on for young people these days.
In a skills-based world the importance of education looms ever larger. They won’t get that dream job without any qualifications.
The days of school as a ‘sausage machine’ are over. With this in mind, the Government is increasing the school leaving age to 18 which means that in England by 2013, all pupils will have to stay in education or training until the end of the school year in which they turn 17. By 2015, this leaving age will be raised to their 18th birthday.
That is not to say that unwilling pupils will be forced to study academic subjects for which they are ill-suited as there will be a more choice with vocational courses and apprenticeships available.
Although it may mean that the opportunities to go out and earn their living at the age of 16 will be limited, tomorrow’s youth will need to find other ways of earning money.
