I want to leave school to work

  • In Wales, you can leave school on the last Friday in June on the academic year when you are 16
  • Your ‘children’s rights’ still apply even if you leave school to work full time when you are 16
  • The laws that protect you if you leave school to work mainly come from UK law and not from the UNCRC

In Wales, you can leave school and start full time employment once you reach the last Friday in June in the academic year when you turn 16. Technically, you are still a ‘child’ – and you still have children’s rights until your 18th birthday. This means that there are still some restrictions on the amount or time you can work, and when you can work.