All 16-year-old school leavers should be offered the chance to continue their education from this September, the government has told local authorities.

Ministers have written to councils in England to remind them of the duty to offer a suitable option to young people with no post-GCSE educational place.

Schools minister Jim Knight said the move would widen youngsters’ chances.

But college leaders said there was still a real need to let people know of this "fantastic new entitlement".

Those with poor GCSE grades are particularly at risk of dropping out.

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