Petitions/Allow children 16+ to work full time instead of mandatory education
StatusClosed
Opened30 Jul 2025
Closes30 Jan 2026
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

Under the Education and Skills Act 2008, school leavers must either go to college, do an apprenticeship/traineeship or part time work & education. I believe the law should change so that young people can legally work full time instead of having to go back into education after turning 16.

As a young person myself, I work a well-paid job. I also contribute to National Insurance payments which helps the NHS, schools, etc. I would prefer to work for a year or two, building up experience in my sector, instead of having to go back into college or do an apprenticeship that I don't want to do.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Dr Neil Hudson
1Dr Neil Hudson MP
Epping Forest
3
Wes Streeting
2Wes Streeting MP
Ilford North
3
Richard Tice
3Richard Tice MP
Boston and Skegness
2
Nesil Caliskan
4Nesil Caliskan MP
Barking
1
Tom Hayes
5Tom Hayes MP
Bournemouth East
1
Alex Burghart
6Alex Burghart MP
Brentwood and Ongar
1
Rosie Duffield
7Rosie Duffield MP
Canterbury
1
Jess Brown-Fuller
8Jess Brown-Fuller MP
Chichester
1
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
9Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP
Chorley
1
Nigel Farage
10Nigel Farage MP
Clacton
1
Allow children 16+ to work full time instead of mandatory education — Petitions