It is compulsory for young people to be in education or training until the age of 18, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in school if it isn’t right for you.
There are plenty of different routes to go down when you turn 16, whether that’s going to college to do A Levels or a vocational course like a T Level, or starting to earn while learning as an apprentice.
Here we talk you through your post-16 options, from school and college, to apprenticeships and supported internships.
How old do you need to be to leave school?
Legally, you can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. However, by September, you will need to be in official education or training.
These are your options:
- stay in full-time education, e.g. at a college, doing A Levels, T Levels or other academic qualifications,
- start an apprenticeship,
- work or volunteer for 20 hours or more a week while in part-time education or training.