Response from The Open University in Ireland to the Department of Education’s Consultation on 16-18 legislation

The Open University in Ireland
110 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3GN
Tel +44 2890 245025
https://www.open.ac.uk/northern-ireland 

16-18 Legislation Team
Department of Education
Rathgael House
46 Balloo Road
Bangor
BT19 7PR

04 July 2025
To whom it may concern,

Response from The Open University in Ireland to the Department of Education’s Consultation on 16-18 legislation

The Open University (OU) in Ireland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department of Education’s consultation on proposals to raise the mandatory age of participation in education or training to 18. At the outset, The OU strongly supports the principle underpinning the Department’s proposal which aligns closely with The OU’s social mission: to make high quality education accessible to all, regardless of age, background or previous qualifications.
Through our flexible, part-time and distance-learning model, we empower learners to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential at every stage of life.

Background to our response

As one of three higher education institutions in Northern Ireland, The OU has an established commitment to widening access and participation, having long specialised in reaching learners who may have disengaged from formal education. Therefore, The OU can offer a unique perspective on how to support young people through diverse and inclusive learning pathways, including individuals choosing to leave formal education before the age of 18.

The Minister has outlined how his planned legislation will align with the Independent Review of Education which stated the need to create a culture of lifelong learning. The OU agrees that raising the participation age is a valuable step towards this, though to more fully realise this vision, The OU recommends the Department take complementary actions to reinforce this legislative change, namely the action recommended below.

ACTION RECOMMENDED: Publish a Shared Commitment to Lifelong Learning

The OU encourages the Department of Education to work in partnership with the Department for the Economy to publish a shared commitment to lifelong learning. This statement would: 

  • Reflect the departments’ joint responsibilities for education, careers, and skills;
  • Emphasise the importance of continuous learning opportunities for all;
  • Make progress towards eliminating ‘dead ends’ in the education system;
  • Contribute to a culture of lifelong learning, as laid out in the Skills Strategy for NI.

This statement would send a powerful message to young people – especially those aged 16- 18 navigating complex decisions – that their learning journey is ongoing, inclusive, and does not need to follow a linear path.

The OU supports a lifelong education journey

The OU welcomes the Minister's acknowledgment that exceptions will be necessary within the proposed legislation (paragraphs 2.7 - 2.10). The OU’s experience shows that learning journeys vary, and participation in mandatory education alone will not guarantee educational equality or build a skilled workforce. Therefore, The OU reiterates its manifesto call for a statutory right to lifelong learning to be enshrined in future legislation. While this may fall outside the current Bill’s scope, we encourage the Department to engage with The OU, the Department for the Economy and external stakeholders represented on the Alliance for Lifelong Learning to further explore the potential of a statutory right to lifelong learning.

The OU’s Role in Supporting Learners aged 16-18

The Department has described how the mandatory education duty may be fulfilled in a variety of ways through school, FE colleges, employment, apprenticeships, training or volunteering. The OU can play a meaningful role in supporting the aims of the department’s legislation, including through our own high-quality education provision:

OU admits learners under the age of 18: While The OU’s average student age is older than the other higher education institutions in Northern Ireland, The OU also admits students under the age of 18, pending certain conditions. The recommended clauses for inclusion the Bill note the role of schools, FE colleges, and the voluntary and community sector (paragraph 2.22). The OU asks to be included in this grouping as a potential provider for young people who may benefit from a distance-learning model. The Young Applicants in Schools Scheme in Scotland is an example of how OU study can enhance the learning experience of those of traditional school age. The OU also supports a small number of learners under the age of 18 who do not participate in formal education and may be considered home schooled. As the OU has no pre-entry requirements for most of our undergraduate courses, we are an attractive proposition for students who have been home schooled.

OpenLearn Resources: The OU's free OpenLearn courses offer a wide range of courses that may support young people not in school to fulfil the duties placed on them by this the legislation, build their study or employability skills, or in supporting young people to explore subject areas that may help their decision-making in choosing future further and higher education options.

Support for learners with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN): The OU is currently working with the Education Authority’s Transition Service to support more young people with SEN to access higher education through The OU. We encourage the Department to consider The OU as a partner in addressing the post-19 support gap for learners with SEN, helping to avoid ‘cliff edge’ scenarios.

The OU appreciates the Department’s efforts to enhance educational outcomes for young people in Northern Ireland and welcomes the opportunity to engage further on any points raised in this letter, including our recommendation to publish a shared commitment for lifelong learning with the Department for the Economy.

Yours sincerely,
Emma O’Kane

Contact us 

Emma O’Kane
Senior Government and Public Affairs Manager
[email protected] / 07880 442630


Chrisanne English
Policy and Public Affairs Manager
[email protected]