After 16

Young people in England and Wales must stay at school until the last

Friday in June of the school year in which they are 16. In Scotland,

some pupils are able to leave earlier, depending on the date of their

birthday.

If your child chooses to continue their education after 16, they will

have to decide whether to stay at school or to go to college.

Staying on at School

Many schools offer one and two-year courses for students aged 16-

19. These are students who either:  

• Want to improve their examination grades  

• Begin training for employment or  

• Hope to go to university

This time at school is usually known as the Sixth Form.

Leaving School

Students who want to leave school at 16 have a choice of finding work or training, or a place at college.

However, your child's right to any of these will depend on their immigration status.

Help in deciding what is the best thing to do is available from school and through the Connexions Service.

Connexions Service

This is the name of the service that gives young people advice on a range of issues. These cover

education, work and training - but also include other things, such as housing, health and money.

Advice from the Connexions Service is available at schools and colleges, from local offices and on

the Internet.