School leaving age

Although the school leaving age has been raised to 17, it is not underpinned by law so cannot be enforced.

Attendance over 16 at school, college etc has to be between 90 and 95% or the student will be taken off the roll. If the student is no longer on the school/college's roll, then child benefit will stop.

It is not possible for a parent to start 'home educating' a child post 16. The child has to have been home educated up to that point. If that is the case, home educating cannot be given as a reason to continue to get child benefit or money from the other parent after a child reaches 16.