The Education and Skills Act means that all young people will be required to continue in education or training post-16. This is a historic Act, raising the minimum age at which a young person can leave learning for the first time since 1972.

The participation age is being raised in two stages, to 17 from 2013 and to 18 from 2015. The first cohort to benefit from these changes began Year 7 this September.

This is not about raising the school-leaving age � young people will not be required to stay in school and will be able to participate in a range of ways, through full-time education, an apprenticeship, or part-time education/training if they are employed full-time.

The DCSF aims to ensure that:

• there is a suitable, worthwhile post-16 learning opportunity for every young person � including Diplomas, general qualifications, Apprenticeships, and accredited training as part of a job;
• young people get the support they need to access these opportunities � including good quality information, advice and guidance; financial support; and support for young people facing additional barriers;
• every 16 and 17-year-old participates � either in full time education, in an Apprenticeship, or part-time (about a day a week) if working or volunteering for 20 hours a week or more.

A culture of high expectations of young people is crucial to this and other agendas � and raising aspirations of all young people will be particularly important, so that they are thinking about their futures and post-16 options as early as possible.

Everyone who works with children and young people has a role to play � to encourage young people to participate, achieve and progress.

Further information is available on DCSF's 14 to 19 website.