Employment of children and young persons

(i) School leaving age

A wide range of statutes impose strict limits on the employment of children under 16 years old. For this reason, no one of compulsory school age may be employed by the University. The compulsory school leaving age of an individual in England and Wales is:

  1. the end of the Spring term if the 16th birthday falls within the preceding 1 September and 31 January period or
  2. the Friday preceding the Spring Bank Holiday if the 16th Birthday falls within the 1st February and 31 August period.

Employing departments should satisfy themselves that any prospective applicant who is 15 or 16 years old is no longer of compulsory school age. If in doubt, advice should be sought from the last school attended or the careers service.

(ii) Working time

Please note that, where a young person is employed, the provisions of the Working Time Directive require that young people under the age of 18 have a break from work every four and a half hours (6 hours for adults).