<P> School boards were abolished in 1902 and replaced with local education authorities, which are still in use to the present day . </P> <P> The year 1918 saw the introduction of the Education Act 1918, commonly also known as the Fisher Act as it was devised by Herbert Fisher . The act enforced compulsory education from 5--14 years, but also included provision for compulsory part - time education for all 14 - to - 18 - year - olds . There were also plans for expansion in tertiary education, by raising the participation age to 18 though cuts in public spending after World War I made this impractical . This is the first act which starting planning provisions for young people to remain in education until the age of 18 . The 1918 act was not implemented until a further act of 1921 was passed . </P> <P> In 1944, Rab Butler introduced the Education Act 1944 which amongst other changes, including the introduction of the Tripartite System, included raising the school leaving age to 15 . Although the act should have been brought into effect as from September 1939, it was not implemented because of the effects of World War II, but was eventually enforced from April 1947 . The comprehensive school system has since replaced the Tripartite System brought in by this act across most of England . This act also recommended compulsory part - time education for all children until the age of 18, but was dropped, in similar fashion to the 1918 Act, to cut spending after World War II . </P> <P> Changes in government approaches towards education meant that it was no longer regarded adequate for a child to leave education aged 14, as that is the age when they were seen to really understand and appreciate the value of education, as well as being the period when adolescence was at its height . It was beginning to be seen as the worst age for a sudden switch from education to employment, with around 80% of children in 1938 leaving education at this age, many having only had primary - school level education . Although there were concerns about the effects of having less labour from these children, it was hoped that the outcome of a larger quantity of more qualified, skilled workers would eliminate the deficit problem from the loss of unskilled labour . </P>

When was school leaving age raised to 15