When does the new law about the age you leave school come in?

Hi my mum says that there is a new law coming in to make you stay at school untill your 18 instaed of 16 this can be school, college or any education related work.

But a teacher at a special needs school told me that it only affected the year 7's of the year the law comes in but my mum disagrees.

Who is right? I'm year 10 after the summer and wondered if i'll have to stay untill im 18.

By the way i need answers for england also if you've got any links to websites to show my mum please put them in.

Thank You x

Plans to raise School leaving age
Raising the education leaving age in England to 18 is a key plan of the government. The leaving age bill includes a duty on parents to assist their children to participate in education or training. There are also moves to reform the apprenticeship system and to improve achievement for children in care.

It means that in England by 2013, all pupils will have to stay in education or training until the end of the school year in which they turn 17. By 2015, this leaving age will be raised to the 18th birthday. The bill includes a duty on young people to comply with this regulation - and also a duty on their parents 鈥渢o assist their children to participate鈥?

This raises the prospect that parents as well as children will face legal responsibilities to ensure attendance until the age of 18. Employers will also be required to release young people for the equivalent of one day a week of training. There are currently 250,000 apprenticeships available, offered by 130,000 employers. In step with plans to keep all young people in education or training until the age of 18, by 2013 all school leavers will be entitled to an apprenticeship place. By 2020, there is a target of 500,000 apprenticeships in the UK - 400,000 of which will be in England

Well i thought (I might be wrong) that there was a law inplace when you left school you either had to get a job or go to higher education.

Stay in school and go to college. so many more opportunities that way. and college is a blast!

that law isnt out yet and its nearly time 2 mve up anyway