• About this study
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Raising the Participation Age Local Authority Survey

About the study

We were commissioned by the Department for Education to find out what local authorities are doing to prepare for raising the participation age in education and training.  Under the Education and Skills Act (2008) from 2013 all young people must stay in education or training until 17 and in 2015 this will raise to 18.   

We found:
- Most local authorities (67%) had a strategy in place dealing with the increase in age and felt positive that they were prepared (77%).
- Most  local authorities (59%) have completed work to assess who they needed to target and almost a quarter have completed a Risk of NEET (not in education, employment or training)  indicator (23%).
- Local authorities reported that engaging with local businesses and parents/carers was particularly difficult.

You can read the report here.

 

Potential policy impact

With rising NEET figures, the need for raising the participation age in education or training to be a successful youth policy is ever more pressing. This study shows that on the whole local authorities are prepared but that there is still a need for the Department of Education to provide best practices guidelines and help them disseminate the message.

 

Methods

We contacted most local authorities in England (79% response rate) to complete an online or telephone survey to find out how they are preparing for the raise in the participation age in education or training.

Researchers

 Sarah Kitchen

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Of interest: