14 to 19 policy
The Department of Education (DE) and the Department for the Economy (DfE) work closely together on cross-cutting issues related to the education and training provision for 14 to 19 year olds.
The 14-19 phase of education and training is crucial for all young people. Every young person should be enabled to fulfil their potential, and be supported to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for adult life. This includes preparation for work to which they are well-suited, development of positive attitudes to continue learning and active participation within the economy and their community.
Flexibility, information-handling skills, knowing where work is available, and a commitment to lifelong learning are now essential requirements for entering the world of work in the twenty first century. Young people entering the 14-19 phase of education and training face a series of fundamental milestones in this brief period of their lives.
This begins with having to make subject choices at the age of 14 which may steer them towards a specific pathway or career. At age 16, further and more definite decisions about what to study and also where and how are made. A small number of young people may choose to leave education and training at this point. For those who remain in the education and training system, at age 18 onwards, decisions are made on continuation of a programme of study or entering employment.
It is important that the education and training sectors are equipped with the resources, policies and practices to ensure young people have clear pathways transitioning them between education, training and the world of work. It is also critically important that our young people are empowered to make informed decisions about the choices they will make and, ultimately, the pathways they will take.
Both the Department of Education and the Department for the Economy have worked in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to establish a basis on which to drive forward a more strategic approach to 14-19 education and training with the aim of ensuring that each young person can become a successful contributor to both society and the economy. It is important that this collaboration continues through the implementation of the 14-19 Framework .