Well, you can't just leave education altogether at age 16.
You HAVE to either stay on for Further Education (A Levels, BTecs, High School (Sixth Form)/College) OR get a job OR get an apprenticeship.
You can't go into unemployment. But to be honest, I don't know what exactly is in place to make sure you don't.
Further Education is always free up until the age of 19, although individual Sixth Forms/College may have differing systems.
University Education is free to an extent in Scotland for Scottish residents.
University Education is capped at £7500 per year in tuition fees for most universities in Wales, and Welsh students get extra funding, and Scottish residents will have their tuition fees covered by their National Assembly.
University Education is capped at £9000 per year in tuition fees for universities in England, but Scottish residents will have their tuition fees covered by their National Assembly. Unsure if the Welsh Parliament helps out Welsh students in England.
Fees however don't have to be paid up front.
Everyone, regardless of income, recieves funding by the Student Loans Company, which is government run.
You get Student Loans for your tuition AND your Maintenance Fees (fees for accommodation and money to live on).
Maintenace Fees are split into loan/grant, where grant doesn't need to be repaid, and the amount given is based on family income.
Your loans don't have to be paid back until you're employed and earning over £17,335 pa. And the amount you pay back each month depends on how much over that threshold you earn.
Interest rate is also capped.
And the loan is waived if not paid off after 30 years since you're eligible to pay it off.
Poll