[BaybeeSkitzo]

i no I'm only young but i don't agree with the fact that the government are changing the age that you leave school and personally i think its unfair. from what i have heard it isn't going to come into action until 2013 which by then i luckily will have left but i still think it is unfair to other pupils and i would like to hear your opinions on this.

x

[melthebell]

personally i couldnt wait to get out, hated it

[BaybeeSkitzo]

i don't hate it but i think staying at school until you're 18 is stupid we're there long enough already so why bring the age up ??

I think it is a good idea. I buggered my time at school up because I just wasn't wise to the fact that it mattered. I think 14 is a silly time to be thinking about what you want to do with your life. I'm 29 and still don't know. Those 2 extra years aren't going to help with the bigger picture but they may just help give you a more informed start in life. By all this though I assume college and university entry ages will change too, or will colleges be eliminated all together?

[cgksheff]

Despite all the scare-mongering headlines, the recommendations are not that you should stay at school until 18, more that you should stay in some form of education or training until 18.

[BaybeeSkitzo]

Originally Posted by Mod_Man

I think it is a good idea. I buggered my time at school up because I just wasn't wise to the fact that it mattered. I think 14 is a silly time to be thinking about what you want to do with your life. I'm 29 and still don't know. Those 2 extra years aren't going to help with the bigger picture but they may just help give you a more informed start in life. By all this though I assume college and university entry ages will change too, or will colleges be eliminated all together?

i know exactly what i want to do after i have left school but would prefer the opportunity to go to college as the person before did bring up, which i wasn't aware of

[liam1412]

I think that the age you are made to decide the fate of your adult life (or the start of it at least) is far too young. maybe a couple of extra years and Id have realised how important college was and that £160 a week IS NOT a lot of money.

[jenniflower]

Depends what they're offering doesn't it? I mean if it's all academic courses it clearly won't suit everyone, but if there are apprenticeships and they teach useful stuff, it's probably a good idea.

[schizodoor]

Well, personally I think you should get the pots done and finish folding the washing baybeeskitzo. After all i did just cook your t and wash yr pants :-P

P.S. make me a coffee

XXX

[BaybeeSkitzo]

i think you'll agree your grammatically incorrect and need to complete your words its pure laziness so

P.S. get stuffed

[mat1978]

Originally Posted by cgksheff

Despite all the scare-mongering headlines, the recommendations are not that you should stay at school until 18, more that you should stay in some form of education or training until 18.

And thats the key. The government want to reduce 16 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) that has to be a good thing. The 'raising the leaving age to 18' seems to me to be far too immotive - its not the case as cgksheff said. Although I cant understand the thought behind this terminology - its bound to put people off. We cant blame the media either this time - Im sure it was Allan Johnson who was quoted as saying he was raising the leaving age.

[CherryNicole]

Will they still be paying people to go to school?? I don't agree with that

[Winemaster]

I think its a great idea, keeps the chav scum off the street during the days and might (holds breath) but not for too long give the gits something else to do.

Maybe the government should also be looking at bringing both the driving and drinking ages into line as well, I reckon 21 would be a better age

[BaybeeSkitzo]

not the drinking or driving ages i need to be able to drive to go to pubs!!!!! lol

[hennypenny]

I cannot understand why they need to make it compulsory. If there were decent training schemes in place, surely there would be enough takers to stay in further education voluntarily?
What about children who nowadays have a gap year before further education?
I don't see that it is a good thing to criminalise children who decide to drop out - if school has already failed them then maybe more school is not what they need, and how is a criminal record going to help?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6479507.stm

[Chris_Sleeps]

Originally Posted by Winemaster

I think its a great idea, keeps the chav scum off the street during the days

The chav scum are the ones playing truant anyway, raising the leaving age will not change their approach towards education. The goverment needs to learn that you can take an horse to water but you can't make it think.

At 14 the last place i wanted to be was in school, and at 16 i didn't change my approach for college either. People have got to learn on their own the value of an education, ironically it is something that can't be taught.

[dinger]

I think it will be a good idea, as long as the extra 2 years are spent on learning a trade or at least some skills for future jobs and not just spent reading Of Mice & Men and doing useless course work which does not benefit you after school which most things you study in the last 2 years in school dont do any way.

[smileyjiver]

I left school two weeks after my 15th birthday. I couldn't wait, I loved primary school but hated secondary school. All my qualifications I've got since leaving school and have all been job orientated.

[Bonny]

When the Government tried to reduce truancy - the figures went up.

When they did the Teenage Pregnancy Initiative - to reduce the number of pregnant teenagers - the numbers went up.

Can you spot the trend here?

Currently 16-18 year olds should be in Education, Employment or Training (hence the need to reduce the NEET figures) but with the new 'initiative' of 16-18 year olds being in Education or Training - where does that leave those who want to go into employment? I assume (though it's probably not even been worked out yet) that the only acceptable employment will be one that has a minimum amount of on-the-job training leading to a recognised qualification?

I must admit, about five years ago I wondered how long it would take for them to make the school leaving age compulsory to 18. I'm sure many of you remember when it was 15 (obviously I was far too young )

But, IMHO, if we can't keep some kids in school up until the age of 16 how on earth are they going to manage till 18

Another 'Good Idea' then lets work out the detail later .....

PS: forgot to add - when it doesn't work out, you'll see a subtle change in wording or emphasis. Compare: "Our aim is to have 50% of young people to go on to Higher Education" and "Our aim is to have up to 50% of young people go on to Higher Education"

[Fareast]

It's difficult to believe sometimes how many hare-brained schemes this present government keep coming out with.As someons has said, it's already a problem keeping all kids in school, nowadays, up to the age of sixteen.

It should be obvious to anyone involved in education that many young people are psychologically unfit to be educated in a classroom or school atmosphere.Teachers are supposed to teach, not to be psychiatrists, but more and more, over the years, they have had to deal with disruptive students who have no intention of being educated and feel resentful that, legally, they are supposed to be being educated at school or somewhere, against their will.

Now, it is planned to 'control' them for 13 years ! Good luck ! I'm sure youngsters ought to be given the chance to leave school from, say, the age of 14 onwards if they so wish. It's always possible to get further education later in life when or if they feel differently about education.

I speak from direct experience. I hated school from the age of 14 to 16 [ having discovered that sex, smoking and beer were much more enjoyable ].I went to college at the age of 38 and became a teacher 4 years later. I've now been a teacher for nearly 23 years and I love education and teaching. We can change a lot as we grow older and [ hopefully ] more mature.I would hate to teach in the U.K. after the mess they have made of schools and education over the years. I would also hate to have been MY teacher because I thought I knew it all and behaved very badly in and out of class.

The difference was in the '50's, I was 'stamped on ' so my behaviour never became dangerous or too violent. These days it's a different story !