Raising the participation age
The government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training. This doesn’t mean that young people must stay in school and it doesn’t mean young people can’t get a job. Young people can still leave school at the end of Year 11; however they must continue to participate in some form of learning until at least their 18th Birthday. Alternatives to staying on at school include -
- full-time education
- an apprenticeship or traineeship
- part-time education or training combined with one of the following: full-time work or volunteering (20 hours or more) combined with regulated part-time education or training (about one day per week).
The aim of the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) policy is to ensure every young person continues their educational studies and fulfils their potential by progressing successfully into higher education, employment or training.
RPA and what it means for employers
There are no new legal duties placed on employers however having a trained and qualified workforce has clear benefits for a business, particularly in terms of productivity.
- Full-time employees aged 16 and 17 working over 20 hours a week are required under RPA, to participate in regulated part-time education or training (around one day per week) alongside their work.
- Part-time employees aged 16 and 17 include those working evenings, weekends or during holidays. These young people are required to meet their RPA duty through full-time education or an apprenticeship alongside their part time work.