To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of places which will be required at educational establishments in Colchester constituency to cater for those between 16 and 18 years old if the school leaving age is to be raised to 18 years. (163742)

The Department has not made detailed projections at a local level. Demographic changes will vary between local areas, of course, as will the nature of demand from young people, and local authorities will need to use their own projections to plan accordingly.

The proposed legislation is for the education and training leaving age, not the school leaving age, to be raised to 18 years. We estimate that most of the additional places required will be in FE colleges, not in schools.