Leaving school - post 16 education and training
We want every young person in Herefordshire to find the right educational choice for them. We aim to give them high quality support that lets them make the most of that choice.
School leaving age
In England, your school leaving age depends on when you were born. You can leave school on the last Friday in June as long as you'll be 16 by the end of that year's summer holidays. However, all young people must stay in some form of education or training until their 18th birthday if they were born on or after 1 September 1997. This is also known as the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA).
Post-school options
Young people can choose from:
- Full-time education - at a school sixth form, sixth form or further education college or training provider
- An apprenticeship or traineeship
- Part-time education or training combined with one of the following:
- Employment or self-employment for 20 hours or more a week
- Volunteering for 20 hours or more a week