School leaving age move slammed

LOCAL Lib-Dems have hit out at Government plans for youngsters to stay on at school until they are 17.

They say the legal requirement will lead to almost 1,000 children across Oldham being forced to remain in school every year.

Oldham East and Saddleworth Parliamentary spokesman Elwyn Watkins said: “Lots of people at 16 are fed up with school and formal education.

“Forcing them to stay in school when it is not right for them is a waste of time and money for both them, the Government and the taxpayer. Staying on at school is not right for all children, some of whom would be better off getting into work.

“If some children have left school after 11 years without any qualifications, I am not sure that spending an extra 12 months is going to improve matters. The real question is: why are some of our children leaving school after 11 years without any qualifications?

“This scheme will cost millions but will not achieve a great deal. There are excellent vocational courses at Oldham College, but children should go there because they want to, not because they are forced to.”

Children who have just started secondary schools will be the first to stay on until they are 17. The increase in the education leaving age is the first such change since 1972, when it was raised from 15 to 16.

It’s an interim step as eventually all pupils will continue in some form of education or training until they are 18.

Ministers say the change is needed because there are around 189,500 young people aged between 16 and 18 who are not in education, employment or training, so-called Neets.