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Ed Balls also gave details of a new strategy to drive down the numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Ed Balls said: "In today's fast changing, dynamic world, everyone needs skills to prosper. And the days where many people could leave school at 16 without qualifications and work their way up into a fulfilling and rewarding career are behind us.

"The demand for high level skills has increased substantially over the last 20 years and is likely to continue to do so with a 50% increase in the proportion of jobs that demand high level skills by 2020.

"Raising the participation age is about social justice too - young people who leave education and training at 16 are disproportionately from poor families. Those who leave school early without good skills and qualifications are less likely to get a good job, while those who stay in education are more likely to gain further qualifications and are likely to earn more in the future." 

The Minister set out details of four building blocks that the government will ensure are in place to successfully raise the participation age:

• curriculum and qualifications that provide the right learning opportunity for every young person, personalised to their needs, aptitudes and aspirations, including a solid grounding for all in functional skills in English, maths and ICT; stretching A-levels with extended projects, and GCSEs with less focus on coursework; and Diplomas which mix the best of theoretical and practical learning
• advice and guidance that helps all young people make the right choices; with clear specifications for local authorities to provide every young person with guidance on the educational choices available to them, including local online prospectuses setting out the full range of courses; and 'taster' experiences to try out different courses
• financial support so that no one is excluded because of cost; including an expansion of the Education Maintenance Allowance to support a broader range of courses and Entry to Employment programmes; changes to the New Deal programme; and continuing the Care to Learn scheme to pay for childcare for young mothers as they continue in post-16 education
• employer engagement and the right training and apprenticeships; to deliver a major expansion in high quality workplace learning; including the creation of a further 90,000 apprenticeships for young people by 2013

Ed Balls also set out details of a £100m 'safety net' to tackle the problem of the estimated 10 per cent of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Further information

• 14 to 19: your life, your options
• Education and Skills Bill Opens new window