Raising Of School Leaving Age
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The Raising Of School Leaving Age (often shortened to ROSLA), is an act which states the legal age a child is allowed to leave compulsory education. In most countries, the school leaving age often reflects when young people are seen to be mature enough within their society, but not necessarily when they are old enough to be regarded as an Adult.
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[edit] Raising Of School Leaving Age (UK)
In the UK, this age has been raised numerous times over the years. The most recent Raising Of School Leaving Age act came into effect starting 1st September, 1972, after preparation which began in 1964.[1] This increased the legal leaving age from 15 to 16, and meant that after the previous leavers left a few months prior, there would be a gap year as the following year group would have to continue their education for an additional year.
[edit] Act 1870
The Elementary Education Act 1870 (applying to England and Wales) created the concept of compulsory education for children under thirteen. In areas where education was considered a problem, elected school boards could be set up. These boards could, at their discretion, create local by-laws, confirmed by Parliament, to require attendance and fine the parents of children who did not attend. There were exemptions for illness, living more than a certain distance (typically one mile) from a school, or certification of having reached the required standard (which varied by board) which were made mandatory across England and Wales by the 1880 Act.
[edit] Act 1880
The Elementary Education Act 1880 insisted on compulsory attendance from 5-10 years. For poorer families, ensuring their children attended school proved difficult, as it was more tempting to send them working if the opportunity to earn an extra income was available. Attendance Officers often visited the homes of children who failed to attend school, which often proved to be ineffective. Children under the age of 13 who were employed were required to have a certificate to show they had reached the educational standard. Employers of these children who weren't able to show this were penalised.ref
[edit] Act 1893
The Elementary Education (School Attendance) act stated a minimum leaving age raised to 11. Later the same year, the act was also extended for blind and deaf children, who previously had no means of an official education.
[edit] Act 1899
Minimum leaving age raised to 12.
[edit] Act 1918 (Fisher Act)
Compulsory education act enforcing education from 5-14 years, with plans also for expansion in tertiary education. It is often known as the Fisher Act, as it was devised by Herbert Fisher.
[edit] Act 1944
Act to raise school leaving age to 15. Should have came in to effect as from September 1939, but was not implemented because of World War II. Act was eventually enforced from April 1947 under the Education Act 1944. This act introduced the concept of the famous 11+ examination, which determined whether a child would be entitled to schooling in a grammar school, secondary modern or technical college, under the Tripartite System. The act was devised by Rab Butler. [2]
[edit] Act 1972
Act to raise the school leaving age to 16, as effect from September 1st, following preparations which began in 1964.
Many schools around the UK were unable to accommodate for this additional year. The decision was made to construct a new building for each school (simply referred to as ROSLA Buildings, ROSLA Blocks or more uncommonly, Trent Buildings), so that schools would have the capacity to cope with this generation of ROSLA students. ROSLA Buildings in different schools within the same county may look very similar from the exterior, the only difference being the separation of rooms within the building. Many of these ROSLA Buildings were "thrown up" within days, and consequentially not intended to stand long-term.
Although the majority of schools around the UK have since replaced the ROSLA Building at their site, there are still numerous schools still actively using their ROSLA Building (for example, Burscough Priory Science College, Burscough, Lancashire). Many ROSLA Buildings still standing which aren't in active use by the school, serve for youth centres or are simply derelict.[3] The majority have since been demolished or extensively refurbished.
In some places, the 1972 changes led to the introductions of Middle schools, where pupils were kept at primary or junior schools for one year longer, meaning that the number of pupils in secondary schools remained virtually constant through the change.
[edit] Future Proposals
In November 2006, various sources reported that England's Education Secretary was exploring ways to raise the school leaving age in the UK to 18, with figures published in June 2006 showing that 76.2% of all young people aged 16-18 are already in further education or training. This did not specifically state that young people would remain in secondary school, but rather by law be required to continue their education full or part time, whether that be in sixth form, college or work based training.[4][5]
[edit] School Leaving Age Worldwide
The majority of countries around the world still fail at synchronising the school leaving age with the minimum age of legal employment, although a significant number do appear to achieve this (with a minority being at a particularly low age, Syrian Arab Republic for example). Very few countries still have no minimum age for both the end of compulsory education and minimum age of employment. In some cases the gap between these two ages can be up to three years (for example, Estonia), which may sound alarm bells at a risk of exploitation of those children "in limbo", who are beyond the age of compulsory education, yet are still too young to be legally employed.[6]
Many countries around the world however do appear to have synchronised the school leaving age with the minimum age, which allows transition into employment much easier and smoother.
