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The raising of school leaving age (often shortened to ''ROSLA'') is the name given by the government to refer to changes regarding the legal age a child is permitted to leave compulsory education, usually falling under an Education Act. 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. In England and Wales, this age has been raised numerous times since the introduction of compulsory education in 1870. On 1 September 1972, the age was raised from 15 to 16, following preparations which began 8 years earlier in 1964.〔(School Attendance FAQ ) DfES.gov.uk〕 This increased the legal leaving age from 15 to 16, leaving a gap year of school leavers who, by law, had to complete an additional year of education from 1973 onwards. There are several reasons why the government may wish to increase the school leaving age, considering it has raised the age numerous times over the 19th and 20th centuries, the last time being in 2015. With past age raisings, the reasons given have been focused mainly on generating more skilled labour by providing additional time for students to gain additional skills and qualifications. In recent years, it has become apparent that most 16- to 18-year-olds are not as motivated to continue their education after completion of their GCSEs, thus increasing the overall unemployment rate, as many are unable to find work.〔("School leaving age set to be 18" ). BBC News. 12 January 2007.〕 The British government hoped that by making education compulsory up to the age of 17 by 2013, and 18 by 2015,〔(What happens after the age of 16? ) BBC.co.uk, 19 November 2014〕 it could change this attitude.〔(Education leaving age brief ) Politics.co.uk, 12 June 2007〕 ==19th century== Prior to the 19th century, there were very few schools. Most of those that existed were run by the church, for the church, stressing religious education. In the latter part of the 19th Century, compulsory attendance at school ceased to be a matter for local option, with the introduction of the Elementary Education Act 1870 a milestone in the British school education system.〔(Lincolnshire School Resources ) Genuki.org.uk〕 Children had to attend between the ages of 5 and 10 though with some local discretion such as early leaving in agricultural areas.〔(School leaving age may be raised ) news.bbc.co.uk, 10 November 2006〕 The introduction of the Elementary Education Act 1870 (applying to England and Wales), commonly known as ''Forster's Education Act'' having been drawn up by William Edward Forster, created the concept of compulsory education for children under thirteen, although didn't insist on compulsory attendance initially, as it only required the provision for education of children up to 10 years of age.〔(History of Mount St Mary's )〕 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. 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.〔 An act brought into force thirteen years later went under the name of the Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act 1893, which stated a raised minimum leaving age 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. This act was later amended in 1899 to raise the school leaving age up to 12 years of age.〔〔(Key dates in British Education (1000-1899) ) ThePotteries.org〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Raising of school leaving age in England and Wales」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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