LONDON (AFP) — New pupils enrolling in secondary schools this week will be required by law to stay in education until the age of 17, the government said on Wednesday.
Raising the minimum leaving age from 16 to 17 is just one of several initiatives taking place in schools this term.
Teenagers heading back to school after the summer holidays will also be among the first to study new diplomas in engineering, construction, IT, media and health.
The syllabus for 11 to 14-year-olds will also see significant changes, as will well as changes to GCSE and A level exams, with the latter getting a new A* grade for the top achieving pupils.
The steps are part of the government's drive to keep youngsters in education or training till the age of 18 -- a move which will become enforceable in 2015.
Ministers estimate around 200,000 youngsters between 16 and 18 are not in education or training.
"Education is all about opportunities -- a good education opens doors. It is the single best way for anyone, regardless of background, to do well and to gain the skills they need to succeed at whatever they want to do," said Schools Secretary Ed Balls.
"I want to see a situation where every single young person has a range of interesting, exciting and challenging options ahead of them at every stage of their education, so that they never feel tempted to drop out or give up," he said.
"This year will see some of the biggest steps towards this goal yet."
Meanwhile, a slew of computer glitches has caused more embarrassment for ministers after it emerged that around 150,000 17-year-old pupils will not receive their maintenance grants.
The allowances, worth up to 30 pounds a week, were held up when the company responsible for processing applications, developed software problems.
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