Local authorities have urged the Government to ensure vital resources are in place before increasing the school leaving age to 18. Fears over lack of adequate teaching staff and space to educate children for longer have been prompted after problems occurred during 1972, when the school leaving age was last raised from 14 to 16. The Department for Education and Skills has given perhaps its strongest hint yet that change is on the horizon, after confirming education secretary, Alan Johnson had asked it to look at options to engage in education and training up until 18, but added transition was ‘not definite'. Mr Johnson further strengthened rumours by telling a national newspaper: ‘We should find it repellent a youngster of 16 is not getting any training.' The Local Government Association backs the proposals, first raised by Gordon Brown in September 2006, but sees complications over finance and issues around ‘forcing' young people to stay on in education and training. ‘We agree that some young people leave school unsuitably skilled or qualified, and do not fulfil roles in the workplace,' a spokesman said. ‘We're happy to see the revision made, but all resources, including teaching and buildings, must be in place at the outset, and a tight Comprehensive Spending Review could make this challenging.' Chief executive of ConfEd, Chris Waterman, said there must be a change in culture so young people ‘expect' to achieve education or training until 18. ‘This education and training must be attractive and designed with 16 to 18-year-olds in mind,' he said. ‘We also need a commitment from employers to release people for training and the success of the soon-to-be rolled out diplomas is critical.'
