In England, a child's school leaving age depends on when they were born. A child can leave school on the last Friday in June as long as they will be 16 by the end of that year's summer holidays.
However, they must stay in some form of education or training until their eighteenth birthday if they were born on or after 1 September 1997.
The options are:
- full-time education – such as school or college
- an apprenticeship or traineeship
- part-time education or training - as well as being employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week
If your child remains in full time education they may be able to study at their own school's sixth form, the sixth form of another school, or at a sixth form college. There are also a number of colleges specialising in a particular subject such as art and design or dance and drama.
Read our common questions about leaving school.
