What Is the Raising of the Participation Age? UK Education to 18 Explained

The Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) is the law requiring all young people in England to stay in some form of education or training until their 18th birthday. It does not mean staying in school — sixth form, college, apprenticeships, and supported volunteering all count. The requirement has applied to all young people since 2015.

What is the Raising of the Participation Age?

The Raising of the Participation Age was introduced by the Education and Skills Act 2008. It extended the compulsory participation age in stages: to 17 from 2013, then to 18 from 2015. The policy applies in England only — Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have separate education legislation and their post-16 arrangements differ.

Importantly, RPA does not require young people to sit exams or gain qualifications. It requires them to participate in education or training — the definition of which is deliberately broad to ensure a pathway exists for every young person, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances.

What counts as participation under RPA?

The law recognises several different forms of qualifying participation. A young person satisfies the RPA requirement if they are in any one of the following:

The critical point is that young people working full-time must still be in some form of training — a 16-year-old in a full-time job without any training component is not meeting the RPA requirement.

Who is responsible for enforcing RPA?

Enforcement lies with the local authority, not with schools or colleges. Local authorities have a legal duty to track young people aged 16 to 18 and to intervene when a young person is not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The Participation Management Information (PMI) system allows local authorities to monitor which young people are meeting the requirement.

In practice, enforcement is supportive rather than punitive. Local authorities are expected to identify young people at risk of becoming NEET and offer guidance, support, and referral to suitable provision before any formal enforcement action. Prosecuting young people for non-participation is legally possible but rare in practice.

Employers also have a responsibility: they must allow young employees under 18 to participate in accredited training during working hours if that training is not available outside working time.

What are the most popular post-16 pathways?

The majority of young people in England continue into one of three main pathways after Year 11:

A-levels: The traditional academic route, taken at sixth form (school-based or standalone sixth form college). Students typically study three or four subjects over two years, leading to examinations at the end of Year 13. A-levels remain the primary entry route for university.

T Levels: Introduced from 2020, T Levels are two-year technical qualifications equivalent in size to three A-levels. They combine classroom study with a substantial industry placement (at least 45 days). T Levels are designed for students who want a practical, vocational route to skilled employment or higher technical education.

Apprenticeships: Apprentices are employed, earn a wage, and receive structured training alongside work. Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE) through to Level 7 (equivalent to a master's degree). They are sector-specific and are set by employers in partnership with approved training providers.

Does RPA apply to young people who leave school at 16?

Yes. Leaving school at the end of Year 11 (at 16) does not end the RPA requirement. A young person who leaves school must enrol in one of the qualifying pathways listed above — sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, or another approved form of participation. The RPA does not prevent a young person from leaving school; it prevents them from leaving education or training altogether until they turn 18.

What happens if a young person refuses to participate?

If a young person aged 16 to 17 is not in education, employment, or training, the local authority has a duty to contact them and offer support. Attendance and Participation Officers work with young people and families to understand the barriers — which may include mental health difficulties, caring responsibilities, financial pressures, or a mismatch between available provision and the young person's needs.

Local authorities can issue a compliance notice to a young person or their parent, requiring them to participate in suitable education or training. If the notice is not complied with, the local authority may issue a fixed penalty notice. However, enforcement action is always a last resort, and the emphasis is firmly on support and finding suitable provision.

What should parents do if their child is struggling at 16?

If your child is considering not continuing into education or training, or if they are struggling to identify a pathway that suits them:

• Contact the school's careers adviser or head of year before the end of Year 11 — they have a duty to provide impartial guidance
• Visit the local authority's SEND or NEET support service if your child has additional needs that affect their ability to access mainstream provision
• Explore apprenticeship and traineeship vacancies at local employers — the National Apprenticeship Service lists vacancies by area
• Consider whether a different type of provision (for example, a college with smaller class sizes or a supported internship) would be a better fit than a school sixth form

The range of qualifying options under RPA is wide by design. Most young people can find a pathway that suits their interests and circumstances if given the right guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Raising of the Participation Age mean young people must stay in school until 18?

No. The law requires participation in education or training, not attendance at school specifically. Young people can satisfy the RPA requirement through sixth form, further education college, an apprenticeship, traineeship, part-time education combined with work or volunteering, or home education. Leaving school at 16 is entirely lawful — the requirement is to continue learning in some form until the 18th birthday.

Can a 16-year-old in England get a full-time job without studying?

Not without also being in some form of accredited training. A young person under 18 who works full-time must still participate in part-time education or training alongside their employment — at least 280 hours per year. Employers of young workers under 18 are legally required to allow them time to complete this training if it is not otherwise available outside working hours.

Does RPA apply in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

No. The Raising of the Participation Age law applies in England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own education legislation. In Wales, there is a similar duty to participate in education or training until 18, introduced separately. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different post-16 frameworks. If your child lives in any of these nations, check the relevant national government's guidance for the applicable rules.

What is a young person classed as NEET?

NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. A young person aged 16 to 18 is classified as NEET if they are not participating in any qualifying pathway under the RPA. Local authorities track NEET young people and are required to offer support and re-engagement. Being NEET is not a criminal offence — the focus of local authority intervention is on identifying barriers and finding suitable provision, not on prosecution.

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