Education Minister Iain Wright has announced a major step towards all young people continuing in education and training until 18.
Trials launched in 11 areas, backed by £1m of Government investment, will pave the way for the raising of the participation age (RPA) across England in 2015. RPA is not about raising the school leaving age, to 17 by 2013 and to 18 by 2015, but the age at which young people complete learning, either in full-time education, in work-based learning, like an Apprenticeship, or part-time education or training.
The trials are based on three different models, one of which looks at how local authorities can best get those aged 16 and 17 who have dropped out of learning through the year, back into education or training.
Another focuses on how local authorities can best provide the right careers advice to young people to ensure they make the most of their options and skills, drawing on our developing thinking on information, advice and guidance (IAG) strategy, which will be published shortly. The third will see the development of area-wide strategies to enable full participation of all young people in education or training.
The areas involved are: Barnsley, Swindon and Wandsworth; Derby, Lambeth and Staffordshire; and Cumbria, East Sussex, Hertfordshire, Newcastle and Greater Manchester. They are trialling one of the three different models (see editors' notes for more details). Each trial will run until Spring 2010, when good practice examples will be drawn together.
At a visit to Manchester Creative and Media Academy for Girls today, Iain Wright, Minister for 14-19 Reform, said: "The days when young people could leave school at 16 without qualifications and find themselves a rewarding career are long gone. The current economic climate means that the job market is more competitive than ever.
"By offering good careers advice and by helping those not in education, employment or training re-engage with learning, we will help ensure all young people understand the options available to them and fulfil their potential - we're providing the opportunities, now we need to make sure every young person knows about them."
Raising the participation age is about giving all young people the education and training they need to succeed, be it in higher education or employment. There is strong evidence of a link between staying on and achieving - young people who progress in education or training after 16 are more likely to gain further qualifications by 18 than those who do not.
Mr Wright added: "There are now more post-16 choices than ever before and the Government is committed to ensuring young people make the most of their talents - be it through a Diploma, Apprenticeship, GCSEs, A Levels or work-based training.
"More young people than ever before are also choosing to continue learning so we know they want this change.
"And through our Backing Young Britain campaign we have committed to ensuring young people are supported through the recession."
The announcement coincides with the first generation of 11-year-olds starting secondary school this term who will all stay on in learning or training until 18.
Also today, innovative new models to help small businesses take on greater numbers of apprentices are being launched.
Twelve organisations have won a share of £7m of Government funding to set up new Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs) and Group Training Associations (GTAs). The new models will help a range of organisations, especially small businesses, to offer more than 14,000 apprenticeship places for young people over the next three years, with a focus on opportunities for 16- to 18-year-olds. The apprenticeships will be offered in industries vital for the country's economic growth, including environmental, creative, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and business administration.
Apprenticeships Minister Kevin Brennan said:
"We want to give small and medium-sized firms the extra support and resources they need to take on more apprentices. These innovative models mean small businesses, who may not previously have felt able to offer apprenticeships, can now get on board and back young Britain. Today' announcement means greater flexibility for small businesses and greater security for apprentices.
Iain Wright said:
"Apprenticeships offer young people a valuable opportunity to build their skills and practical experience. We want apprenticeships to be a mainstream option for young people and we are committed to expanding the number of apprenticeship places available. At a time of economic downturn, it is vital that we continue to invest in young people." | 
