Raising the participation age
Documents about raising the participation age (RPA), including research reports, guidance for LAs and best practice for schools.
Information on the RPA trials and implementation plans, including research, evaluation, statutory guidance and advice for schools.
More general information for schools, parents and pupils is available on the school leaving age area of this website.
Local authorities tested different approaches to increasing participation and preparing for RPA between 2009 and 2013. The RPA tools developed from these trials to showcase best practice can be found on the National Archives.
In early 2012, we consulted on what the RPA regulations should be, and published the government response to the findings. These were incorporated into the statutory guidance.
Research reports published in the last 5 years are available on GOV.UK. You can find our archived research on the National Archives. Note: the search function is not available on archived content so please use the filters on the left of each page.
Guidance and resources for local authorities
Guidance for schools
Strategy reports
‘Building Engagement, Building Futures’ is a policy paper developed jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education, and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to maximise the participation of 16- to 24-year-olds in education, training and work.