1. Raising Participation Age (RPA) Oct 2012 Chris Richards Associate Adviser VS LAC

2. What is RPA? The Education and Skills Act (2008) places a duty on all young people to participate in education or training until their 18th birthday. LA’s have a duty to support them in doing this. This will come into effect from September 2013

3. First Cohort Current year 11 and year 10 students will be required to participate until the end of the academic year in which they are 17 2014/2015. Current year 9 and those following will be required to participate until the end of the academic year in which they are 18

4. What does participate mean? It is not the same as raising the school leaving age Young people will be able to choose how they participate post-16, this could be; Full-time education, such as school, college. An Apprenticeship; Part-time education or training if they are employed, self employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.

5. What does it mean for LA’s The Education and Skills Act places duties on local authorities, in relation to RPA. LA’s will be required to: Promote the effective participation in education or training of all 16 and 17 year olds resident in their area. Make arrangements to identify young people resident in their area who are not participating. (NEET)

6. RPA Regulations (the result of the RPA consultation and prior to statutory guidance) Government will not regulate to define residency (numbers likely to be very small) What defines full-time education? Education Funding Agency funded full time study up to to 600 guided learning hours (GLH) per year. Minimum of 540 GLH (30 weeks at 18 hours a week equal to 3 ½ days) Independent Specialist Provision will meet the same requirements Re-engagement provision – no hourly rate will be set. Government will now work with the sector to define a set of principles that this provision could meet Home Education – no hourly rate will apply as parents have discretion. Government will suggest in the guidance that LA’s could confirm with the parent that home education is being provided.

7. Working ‘not for reward’ Volunteering, holding an office & self-employment are all participating when combined with part-time study. Young Carers – Government is considering further but likely to suggest that this falls in the ‘not for reward’ group but needs to be combined with part-time study and carers should be in receipt of Carers’ Allowance or on LA register of carers. Young Parents – LA’s will decide about a reasonable parental leave period on a case-by-case basis. Government will work with relevant organisations to draw up a light-touch volunteering agreement

8. Employers Responsibility Duties on employers will not be commenced in 2013 i.e. fines Employers will not have to check a young person’s enrolment for study It is the young person’s responsibility to undertake part time training LA’s have a responsibility to support them to do this. Government will keep this area under review

9. More detailed regulations are expected late in the Autumn term.