ABSTRACT
In the United Kingdom compulsory education ceases at the age of 16 and all young people must make the choice to remain in education and training or not. In the early 1980s the majority chose to leave education and enter the labour market, but as a result of changing societal expectations, changing labour markets, and the impact of government policy designed to enhance participation, by the late 1990s participation in education or training was the choice of 70% of 16/17 year olds. This has brought participation in this age group in line with international patterns of participation in education and training up to the age of 18.
