Goverment will fine teenagers £50 if they refuse to study up to the age of 18

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The education leaving age will rise from 16 to 18 under plans published today.

The new Education and Skills Bill will mean all teenagers in England will have to attend either school, college or job training.

Those who refuse will face spot fines of £50 and possible court fines of £200, while parents will have a duty to help make sure their children attend classes, under the plan.

Employers will also be required to let young people attend training for at least one day a week.

But the proposals have run into opposition from children's campaigners, unions and the Conservatives, while parents have questioned the plan.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has acknowledged he faces "a big task" to convince teenagers to support the idea.

But today's 10-year-olds - the first to be affected by the reform - must learn to understand the consequences of dropping out of school early, he said.