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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23925033

Teenagers who fail to score at least a Grade C in English and maths GCSEs will have to continue studying the subjects, the government has announced.

It is thought the change could affect more than 250,000 young people in education or training in England.

The education secretary said the subjects were the ones "employers demand before all others".

The reform coincides with another change which sees the education participation age raised to 17.

It means 17-year-olds are legally required to be in college or school or some form of job-based training. The age will rise again to 18 in 2015.

'Severely disadvantaged'

Teenagers who fail to get a decent score in English and maths will now have to carry on studying until they achieve at least a Grade C.

Up until now, pupils have been able to drop the subjects at the age of 16 without having gained a qualification in them.

Many would never study these subjects again, prompting concerns from employers that too many young people lack skills necessary for work.

Last year, there were more than a quarter of a million 19-year-olds without a C grade in English and maths.

The intention is for teenagers who missed C grades to re-take GCSEs in maths and English, but there will also be an option to take other types of maths and English lessons.

The importance of developing basic skills beyond the age of 16 was emphasised by Professor Alison Wolf in her report on improving vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds.

She found that too many vocational qualifications lacked value for employers and too many youngsters were entering adult life without adequate skills in literacy and numeracy.

"Good English and maths grades are fundamental to young people's employment and education prospects," she said.

"Individuals with very low literacy and numeracy are severely disadvantaged in the labour market."

Speaking after the announcement, Prof Wolf welcomed the implementation of her proposals.

“Every other country in the developed world concentrates on improving the language and maths skills of its post-16 students, and so should England. Recognising the central place of English and maths skills in society is long overdue.”

But Labour’s shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said more urgent action was needed.

"In 2012 Labour set out ambitious plans for all children to study English and maths to 18.

“A whole wasted year later and the government have only got half way there. This isn't good enough. [Prime Minister] David Cameron needs to listen to employers - they want all young people to continue building these key skills to 18."

Alison Sherratt, president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, is not convinced about the change.

"It's going to be hard because they're going to obviously have to find a lot more English and maths teachers to put this into place," she told BBC Breakfast.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “Good qualifications in English and maths are what employers demand before all others.

"They are, quite simply, the most important vocational skills a young person can have. Young people must be able to demonstrate their understanding of these subjects.”

What do you think of these reforms? Is it fair to demand that everyone has Grade C or above at GCSE English and Maths or is there no point forcing people to study something they aren't good at?

I'm from Scotland so I studied under a different academic system, but if the equivalent was applied up here, I think it'd be okay... you should have to have a basic qualification in English and Maths... but I only did up to Intermediate 2 Maths - it was not my strong point at all and I gladly dropped it ASAP. I believe all of my grades would have suffered if I had been forced to study Maths all the way through school... but I did it up to the basic level required so that's good enough I think.