Like virtually everything else surrounding education, the rules around leaving school early can be confusing—especially since policies vary across the UK. With such differing, and sometimes, conflicting regulations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, confused, and unsure about what applies to you.
That’s why, in this article, we’re here to clear up any confusion you might have on this topic and provide you with all the necessary information in one place.
In this article, we’ll break down whether education is compulsory until 18, explore your post-16 options, and explain the potential consequences of leaving education early, including financial impacts. Keep reading for a detailed guide on what you need to know.
Table of Contents
Is staying in education until 18 mandatory in the UK?
While staying in education until 18 is mandatory in some regions of the UK, this is not the case everywhere. Each country within the UK has its own policies on education and school leaving age.
Have a look at the following table to see the policies on staying in education:
|
|
England | Wales |
Scotland |
Northern Ireland |
|
School leaving age |
16-last Friday in June of the school year you turn 16. |
16-last Friday in June of the school year you turn 16. |
If you turn 16 between 1st March or 30th September: 31st May of that school year. If you turn 16 between 1st Oct-end of February: Christmas holidays of that school year. |
If you turn 16 during the school year (up to 1st July): 30th June of that school year. If your birthday is after this or up to 31st August, you will have to wait until the following school year on 30th June. |
|
Compulsory education post-16? |
Yes
Between the ages of 16 and 18, you need to stay in some form of full-time or part-time education. This isn’t limited to college or sixth form. |
No |
No |
No |
You can learn more about these different policies on this page of the government website. If you’re not quite sure what it means to be in “some form of education” don’t worry, as we’ll go into greater detail on this in the next section.
What are your options after turning 16?
As students in England are legally required to stay in education, there are three available options:
- Full-time education: You can do this at sixth form, college or an alternative recognised education provider. There are a range of different qualifications available both academic and vocational.
- An apprenticeship: An apprenticeship is where you are in full-time work but are also completing a related qualification at the same time. Typically, you will have about 80% of the programme dedicated to work and about 20% dedicated to studying. This programme will last from a year up to 6 years depending on the field and level. Learn more about apprenticeships in this Think Student article.
- Part-time education and part-time work: Students taking this option are required to do at least 20 hours per week of studying at a recognised education provider alongside their part-time work or volunteering.
For students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are no set limits on what you can do. You could do full-time work, full-time study or a combination of both, if you want to.
Learn more about your post-16 options in this guide by the Education Policy Institute.
Do you have to do A-Levels?
No, A-Levels are just one of many qualification options available to students. Whether you’re in full-time or part-time education or completing an apprenticeship, there are a range of different types of qualification that you can get.
While we can’t cover them all in this article, the table below provides a breakdown of some of the main options available:
| Options | Key features | Duration | Entry requirements | Source |
| A-Levels | Academic qualification.
Students typically do 3, but 4 can be taken. |
2 years full-time. | Depends on the education provider, typically about 5 GCSE passes, including English and maths. | Learn more in this Think Student article about A-Levels. |
| T-Levels | Vocational qualification. 80% study, 20% work placement.
Students can only do 1 but are worth the equivalent of 3 A-Levels. |
2 years full-time. | Depends on the education provider, typically about 5 GCSE passes. Have a look at this Think Student article for more on the entry requirements. | Read this Think Student article for more on T-Levels in general. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma | Academic qualification.
Includes 6 subjects, a project, and extracurricular activities.
Roughly equivalent to about 5 A-Levels. |
2 years full-time. | Depends on the education provider, likely around 5 GCSEs at grade 5.
Learn more on this page by Taunton School. |
This Think Student article will go into more detail on the IB. |
| BTEC Nationals | Vocational qualifications.
Can do 1-3 depending on size.
Can be studied alongside other qualifications, such as A-Levels. |
2 years full-time | Depends on the education provider, typically about 5 GCSE passes, including English and maths. | Have a look at this Think Student article for more. |
| Traineeships | Vocational programme and skills development course to prepare students for an apprenticeship or full-time work. | Minimum of 6 weeks-up to a year. | Need to be between the ages of 16 and 24. | Learn more about traineeships in this Think Student article. |
| Functional Skills | Alternatives to GCSEs in English, maths and digital skills at level 1 or level 2. | Up to 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. | No requirements. | Have a look at this page from City & Guilds for more on these qualifications. |
What happens if you leave education before turning 18?
Although staying in education until 18 is a legal requirement in England, it’s not always the best fit for everyone. Some students may struggle to find a course they enjoy or find being in education challenging altogether. If a student stops attending or drops out, you might wonder what the consequences are.
For the most part, there won’t be any serious consequences. However, your former education provider and/or your local council will try to contact you.
This is since they have a responsibility to try and keep you in education. When they contact you, they may offer alternative options, such as a place at a college, an apprenticeship programme, or another form of education.
You can learn more about what happens if you leave education early in this guide by the government.
If you were previously eligible for benefits independently from your parents or guardians, you will still be eligible for these regardless of whether you’re in education or not. However, leaving full-time education can affect certain benefits that your family receives.
Continue to the following section for more detailed guidance on what these effects might be.
Does leaving education before 18 affect your family benefits?
After a child turns 16, family-related benefits are often dependent on the child’s student status, specifically whether they remain in full-time, non-advanced education until the age of 18 or, in some cases, 20. In this context, refers to qualifications below higher education, meaning anything below or equivalent to the first year of university.
You can learn more about non-advanced education in this Think Student article.
Some of the benefit schemes that may be affected are as follows:
- Child Benefit: Learn more on this page of the government website.
- Child Maintenance Service: Learn more on this page of the government website.
Other benefit schemes, such as Universal Credit, are not necessarily dependent on having a child in education, so they may remain unaffected.
For both Child Benefit and the Child Maintenance Service, the student must be enrolled in an approved form of education that is non-advanced, full-time, and started before their 19th birthday to maintain eligibility.
Some examples of approved education courses are as follows:
- A-Levels
- T-Levels
- Highers
- Advanced Highers
- Traineeships
- NVQs
- IB Diploma
However, apprenticeships are nor included, even if they lead to one of these qualifications. You can learn more about this on this page of the government website.
If your student status affects these benefits, payments may be reduced or suspended altogether.
It’s important to notify the government of any changes, such as your child turning 16 and whether they remain in full-time education. This is so that there aren’t any issues, such as under or overpayments which would lead to further issues in the long run.
What are the benefits of staying in education or training until 18?
In articles like this, you often come across endless paragraphs focusing on the negatives, exceptions, and “buts.” However, in this article, we’ll be looking at some of the positives of staying in education.
Have a look at the following list to see the pros of staying in education until you’re 18:
- Increases likelihood of staying in further education.
- Decreases likelihood of long periods of unemployment.
- Allows you to build both academic and interpersonal skills.
- Can improve your overall quality of life.
- Potentially leads to higher earnings compared to students who leave education earlier.
- Can help to “stall” before entering a life of full-time work, which can be especially overwhelming before 18.
You can learn more about these benefits on this page of the Nottinghamshire County Council website.
Are there any exceptions to staying in education until 18?
Certain situations can make staying in education particularly challenging. Some students who may struggle with this include:
- Young adult carers that need to provide care for a family member.
- Young parents balancing education with childcare responsibilities.
- Students with mental or physical disabilities that make attending college difficult.
Despite these challenges, there doesn’t appear to be any explicit exceptions to the requirement of staying in education until 18. However, if you are still in full-time or part-time education, it’s a good idea to inform your education provider of your situation. This may make them more lenient and understanding, especially if you have a high number of absences or need more flexible arrangements.
If you are no longer in education at all, you can contact your local council and see if they can offer any support to make it easier for you to attend your studies.
In some cases, it may be possible to do home-schooling as full-time or part-time education. This would be considered approved non-advanced education, as long as you started being home-schooled before you turned 16.
Alternatively, if you have special educational needs, you may still be able to start home-schooling after you have turned 16. Learn more about this by checking out this guide by the government.
For students with additional responsibilities, disabilities, or long-term illnesses, home-schooling could provide a more flexible way to continue learning while accommodating personal challenges.
Can you get financial support if you stay in education or training?
Aside from health issues or personal responsibilities, you may struggle to stay in education or training, due to your financial situation. However, there are a few financial support options available to help students continue their studies, such as the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.
This is a bursary for students between the ages of 16 and 19 from low-income backgrounds and students in care. Additionally, students with disabilities or special educational needs who have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) may qualify for this support until age 25.
To access this funding, students will need to apply directly to their education provider. Depending on the school or college’s discretion, you can get funding for things you need for your education, such as textbooks, free meals, bus passes, course-specific equipment and more.
Have a look at this Think Student article for more information.
Also, certain students may be entitled to additional financial aid based on their circumstances.
Some of the financial support that you might be able to get based on these may include:
- Young adult carers: you may be able to get Carer’s Allowance. Although, this has rather strict rules as to how long you need to be caring per week and your income. However, if eligible, it could provide some much-needed financial aid that may make attending university a bit easier. Learn more on this page of the government website.
- Students with a child: you may qualify for Universal Credit. This will be dependent on you and/or the other parent being the primary caregiver(s) to the child, as well as other criteria, including income, etc. Learn more on this page of the government website.
- Students with a disability: you might be able to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which provides financial support for those with long-term physical or mental health conditions. Learn more on this page of the government website.
For each of these benefits programmes, you would need to apply online via the respective portal of the government website. You will need a bank account and proof of your situation to complete the application.
This is good advice but for some students with learning disabilities the thought of more education and college are filled with dread. Hardly any schools now provide careers advice ( I know because I work in education) .
If a 16 yr old feels work is better suited to them and will give them a sense of independence and those valuable life skills they need then the government should be doing more to encourage this and enable employers to take them on.
yes, my daughter is 17 and has ASD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. She has just completed her first year of college but unless she passes her maths GSCE (she is waiting on the results of her second retake) she has been told she can’t stay on as the next level of her course needs maths level 4 as an entry requirement. I have asked if they will make an exception as she is expected to finish the first level with a distinction but they have said no, she must meet all requirements. If she can’t stay at college what is she… Read more »
i do agree with you my son didn’t get 4 in English and Math’s he has dyslexia he finds getting to a 4 will be to hard for him there’s no advise on what he can do as he would like a job or learn on the job as a plumber but all they keep saying is you need 4s in English and Math’s what hope does my son have, this government are making it worse for those with education needs, if you had a builder round or a plumber of a certain age i bet they don’t have 4s… Read more »
My daughter is 17 and in college because she has to, she would much prefer to have a full time job and it’s about time this government sees that in a time when this country has hundreds of thousands of job vacancies that the young people of this country could fill these rather than going to college because it is the law until they are 18
Hi. My son is 17 and started his 1st year of a levels last September. He has found it very difficult due to his ASD so I spoke with the national careers service and they told me that it is only a guideline that they stay in education til they are 18. Nobody can stop them from leaving to pursue work and there will be no legal consequences.
He is now out of college and doing some part time work. Hope this helps
do you know if there are any exceptions to this rule? My daughter is 17 and was offered a FT job at £18k per year only to have it rescinded because of this stupid law. She is in college doing a fluff btec she doesn’t really want to do because she has to.
Contact the national careers service. I have spoken with them and my sons college and no one can stop them from leaving education.
you’re right but the law says no one, under 18 can work full time.
They can’t work full time being 40+ hours a week but a 16-18 year old can work up to 40 hours a week and the only other law if they can’t work night shifts
My daughter has started ‘A’ levels at college however doesn’t and won’t go. She doesn’t want to discuss anything with me (Dad,single parent). Any ideas???
I have the exact same problem with my daughter. 16 just started an apprenticeship. Toxic office environment. No help. Been told not to ask for help from others. Cries nearly every day. Had 2 meltdowns since July when she started and had to have 3 weeks signed off with depression. They still treat her badly after that! She really cannot do sixth form or college as that environment is no good for her either. Can only send strength. I’m finding holding down my own job hard coping with this every day.
I sympathise with you as I am in similar situation. It’s not just their lives it’s everyone around them. My granddaughter is making herself I’ll with worry and tears every night
Hi. My son is 17 and started his 1st year of a levels last September. He has found it very difficult due to his ASD so I spoke with the national careers service and they told me that it is only a guideline that they stay in education til they are 18. Nobody can stop them from leaving to pursue work and there will be no legal consequences.
He is now out of college and doing some part time work. Hope this helps
I can identify with you there. My 17 year old has been taken off the programme she was doing in College, she suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, she is still waiting to be referred to a CAMHS doctor.
she went to college a couple of times but she found she couldn’t cope with the college life, now she is in limbo not doing anything, I’m a single mum and worried where it will all end up .
Hi do you get any financial help to keep your daughter as not in college
my daughter has suffered with severe depression since lockdown. Actually managed to pass some GCSE’s, started college but also got a job in McDonald’s! She never goes to college, we argue every morning, causing major anxiety for me (also single parent) she really has no enthusiasm,
but goes to work early and comes home smiling !! How can that be wrong???? So glad I am not alone in this, so grateful to you all
In the same place (Dad, single parent)! I was blissfully unaware of her unhappiness until last week when she finally confided in me! Not sure if it will help you but she recently started at McDonalds and she absolutely loves it. Not necessarily the best job in the world but it can (and probably will lead to better opportunities) has prospects and has boosted her confidence no end. She is now thinking about quitting A levels and doing something vocational at college instead. Maybe see if your daughter would like to get a part time job? Just a thought!
So happy you said that, I have just written a very similar post! My daughter suffered hugely with depression with lockdown, real struggle to keep her in education. she won’t get out of bed for college, but turns up at McDonald’s early for shift, comes home buzzing and talking non stop!! Massive smiles, how can that be wrong??? Thank you so much for sharing your story, very much appreciated x
If she won’t talk to you there’s not much you can do. Does she want to work? If so help her to get a part time job. Try civil service at entry level (AO grade)…. they have loads of good paying part time/Flexi time jobs. Tell her you will support her financially if she needs. If she doesn’t want to go to school then she doesn’t go. What are they gonna do? Kick her out? She’s not going anyway. Best of luck tho.
Hi. My son is 17 and started his 1st year of a levels last September. He has found it very difficult due to his ASD so I spoke with the national careers service and they told me that it is only a guideline that they stay in education til they are 18. Nobody can stop them from leaving to pursue work and there will be no legal consequences.
He is now out of college and doing some part time work. Hope this helps
My daughter is half way through her second year at college doing a beauty course and has-been told to get a work placement. But she isn’t confident and doesn’t want to, so now she doesn’t want to go to college as they are pushing her and pushing her to get a placement. She has gone off the idea of being a beautician. Surely these things happen. Can she not just leave and go and get a part time job? She is suffering from anxiety as it is.
Hi – my daughter was encouraged to look for a beauty placement when she first started her level 2 beautician course, she refused and said she won’t join a salon until she is fully trained and confident – 3 years later not only does she have levels 2 & 3 under her belt, she also has a level 4 diploma in beauty (which was done at college but equivalent to a Uni degree), she had 3 job interviews in 1 week, agreed her salary with the employer she chose to go with and now is as happy as can be!… Read more »
My son is in his second year at college. Doing btec.. his original teacher is on maternity leave, has 2 new teachers, 1 teacher is fine now he’s used to him, 2nd teacher taught his brother and calls him by his brothers name. 40 students in the class and is literally not getting the grade for last assignment (had distinctions in other teachers class and all last year) didn’t even get a pass despite doing 92 pages in detail. He has been off I’ll for 3 weeks and due to covid has had to go have 3 pcr tests due… Read more »
My son is 16 and just left school,he has a soccer scholarship offer but couldn’t get to do A level course due to only getting grade 3 in maths,he’s been offered a level 3 national diploma in sport alongside a retake of Maths GCSE but is desperate to do A levels
Any advice
My granddaughter who lives with us is doing an apprenticeship. She loves the people and the job but the course work she has to do after work is stressing her out and bringing on her anorexia which she has suffered from in the past. Can she stop doing the apprenticeship and still work where she is. She is 17 next month. I fear for her mental health. She hated school although did well in her exams
My son is 16 and has been in collage since September last year . He’s hardly attending any lessons this year and does not want to go. He never like school towards the end either . He feels like collage is not what he wants . He’s confused about what he wants but definitely does not want collage . I don’t know what else I can do to help him .
Can a parent be fined for a student missing a day from 6th form for a family bereavement. I’ve always been lead to believe it’s not a legal requirement for them to be in school as it is from the age of 4-16?
This is out of date now. The gov has scrapped 1000s of courses & now forcing students onto A levels, T Levels or apprenticeships.
T levels sound lkke a disaster about to happen, there’s next to no syllabus info anywhere.
My child was due to start aviation engineering in Sept place applied for & accepted. Yesterday we get a letter saying he’s now been put on a transition T level course for 12 months in engineering & manufacturing.
Needless to say he’s not doing it & now it’s get an apprenticeship or break the law.
Tories strike again
i am a student in year 10, 15 years old. i have had severe mental issues brought upon me because of school, not only the stress of the education itself but those around me, whether that’s students or staff members. i’m constantly getting chased up about not attending certain lessons and the staff only do things to make their own life easier. i wish this age would be lowered, even just by a year so my case could be dropped. i don’t wish to suffer anymore.
I honestly feel for you, i have a 15 year old son and he’s also suffering badly with anxiety and depression due to other issues that have happened, he’s seeing a counsellor and having EMDR therapy for PTSD but the school are just adding pressure – even when the professionals have stepped in and asked the school to give him time, he’s trying to make the effort but feels the staff are only concerned with ‘keeping up appearances’. He just wants to leave and get his mental health sorted then think about his education in the future. As his mother… Read more »
There’s a Facebook group called Not Fine in School. Joining it might give you some helpful advice. Good luck!
I get what you’re saying. I’m 16 and have been having severe depression since i was about 12. My school hasn’t done a lot to help and my grades suffered due to me not attending school for 9 months. Which meant I wasn’t given any offers for college since I missed gcse mocks and they couldn’t predict my grades. Still have no clue what i’m supposed to do but applying to part time jobs is so far the only option i have.
My daughter has ASD and has been home educated for 8 years due to being forced out of the education system. When she turned 16 she decided she no longer wanted anything to do with ‘education’. She has signed up with business mentors through out local city council who work with 16-29 year old who are NEET (not in education, employment or training). They are mentoring her in business startup. But by law this is not seen as education because it is not college, so we will lose her child benefit and her EHCP will be stopped.
I am 17 years old, with 6 months left of my apprenticeship. When i finish in January 2023, i will still have 5 months left until i am 18. Do i have to be in some sort of education until then? Would seem pointless to get another apprenticeship as they are normally 18-24 months and as soon as i turn 18 i will not want to be on an apprentice wage? What can i do for them odd 5 months after i leave?
My son is 17 he found a full time job where he is earning more than I am! He now doesn’t want to go back to college as he never liked it. He wants to stay where he is as his boss is going to be putting him through his digger ticket etc. He’s really happy there. What would happen if he just didn’t go back to college and pursued this job he’s already in?
I would like to know the answer to this as well, my son is 16 and has been working for the last 4 weeks, done his cscs qualification and wants continue working and getting all his machine qualifications in the future, he doesn’t want to go to college but not sure if we’ll be contacted from the education department or fined if he continues in full time employment?
My son Is the same! Started a level 3 course (2 year course) in ICT (can do anything computer based) He has been working part time (more since college finished in June) and he loves working he is more confident socially (is usually very quiet) he is Like me in the sense he’s a doer!) he’s completed his first year but doesn’t want to go back (not made any friends and is very quiet) he is about to do his forklift license through work once he turns 17 at end in august and I think doing this will open up… Read more »
My Daughter has done 1 year on a course and has been let down but the collage as she was accepted for the next level but because she could not get a placement at a vets she cannot now go on the course, there is no alternative and she is now looking for an apprenticeship, however, she is not 18 until december and now not in collage or working, she is worried she will be fined?
As a teacher in a college there are some very interesting points raised here but some advise for those with lots of questions. You can not be prosecuted or chased if a child is out of education between 16-18 however they should ideally not be at risk of NEET (not in education, employment or traineeship). Provided they are doing one of these it should be ok. Obviously if they are not in education they will now be expected to contribute to society. Additionally those receiving child benefits will lose them if they do not continue education and for single households… Read more »
This is excellent advice. I’m a single parent and whilst full time education might not be for everyone there are lots of options within ‘education’ worth considering. And it’s not just their education, there’s a large social aspect to consider in these formative years. Leaving education can exacerbate isolation from your peers.On the single parent aspect you’ve got to be aware that any maintenance arrangement from the non resident parent would no longer be enforceable AND (as pointed out above) child benefit and any other benefits relating to your child will end at the end of August after they turn… Read more »
My daughter is 16 married and has a baby 08 weeks old. she has been told that she has to complete her education either by going to college until she’s 18 or getting an apprenticeship. Obviously being a young wife and mother this is impossible. Does she legally had to go. Her husband is 18 and now works full time.
My 17 year old has been going through a lot of anxiety and has been having panic attacks almost every other day for sometime now.
He is refusing to go to school once it reopens and has also said he is not sitting for his A-levels as he isn’t confident. He also finds no interest in the subjects that he has picked up.
Also, we are able to tell him anything as it triggers his anxiety and then he has his attacks. Absolutely lost a parents
So iv a 16 year old who has run away cause he’s mum is abusive to him he’s living with me and my daughter his girlfriend he’s from England bit now in Wales the school here are refusing to take him and he’s not enrolled in a school at all now he’s ment to leave in June and it’s Dec now so he’s still to do his gcses but as I said school here in Wales is saying no .don’t know what I’m ment to do as his old school is 200 mile away and he’s scared to go home.… Read more »
I’m 16 currently and I applied to a sixth form and got rejected because of my grades. And I currently can’t apply anywhere else since the sixth form was at my secondary school (which is a 20 minute walk) and the next closest place is 30 minutes in a car. I have a big fear of public transport due to getting lost in London at a young age and even if I could apply to the next closest college the bus fees are £300 for the year. I have no option but to not attend college and I think that… Read more »
You can leave education at 16 and work – but the work must involve training. Parents are no longer responsible for attendance and can not be fined, there is no law relating to the raising of the participation age and talking of legalities is misleading. If a young person is out of education, employment or training, they are classed as NEET and the Local Authority has a duty to contact them and support them. In reality they will usually be satisfied if a young person gets a job, and they will not chase it up. Under 18s will not, however,… Read more »
My daughter is not 18 until December, she has just completed a year at college but we don’t yet know if she will be able to stay on for the next level of her course as she failed her maths GCSE which a requirement for the next level. She has retaken her maths exam and will not know for a few weeks if she has passed. If she doesn’t pass her gcse and can’t stay on at college what can she do if she has to stay in education for another 5 months. she has ASD and dyslexia and is… Read more »
My daughter is 16 now, quit school before she officially left not taking any exams. Got into college 4/5 weeks ago and decided its not for her. She has never liked being told/asked to do things since she turned 11,Now me and her mum are since separated and it’s only got worse. Worried for her future bit she wont listen
Im a 15yo and im really struggling with my first year of GCSEs. I’ve been thinking about dropping out for a while and I’m pretty sure this is a good option for me but this website doesn’t have any positive outcomes for dropping out. We are struggling financially at home and I want to help out as much as I can. When I turn 17 I’d like to join the infantry in the army. Someones whose dropped out at 15, is this a good idea?
what the hell..My 16 year old son has just spent nearly a year sectioned and diagnosed with bi polar..he is now 3 months before GCSEs having to start a hospital school unit and as you can imagine he has lost a year to mental health and after this 3 months told he legally has to attend college or a course..his plan to join the army has ended because of this diagnosis and now they all saying he has to do a course when he is still recovering from the affects of his sudden illness..This will send him ill again