Remove age barriers to education and retraining for over 60s
The Issue
People are being told to work longer, stay active, and remain independent as they get older. But at the same time, once you reach 60, access to education and retraining becomes limited. That doesn't make sense.
Many people in their 50s and 60s are leaving work, often not because they want to, but because they can't find opportunities or get the support they need. Employers and the government are encouraging older people back into work - yet one of the main ways to do that, retraining, is restricted by age.
There is also a real gap between losing work and reaching State Pension age. People can find themselves too young for a pension, but struggling to get hired and then blocked from retraining as well.
As someone who recently graduated, I planned to continue straight into postgraduate study. I was invited to fast-track onto the MFA, but I had to ignore the emails because of my age. I've hit that barrier myself purely because of age, despite years of work to get here. I feel my studies ended midway. I've also spoken to other mature students who are in the same position.
People do not all reach their 60s from the same starting point. Caring responsibilities, illness, bereavement, financial hardship and other circumstances can delay education and employment for many years. Reaching 60 should not mean that those years of lost opportunity suddenly become a reason to deny someone the chance to continue.
There is also a difference between someone starting a completely new course after 60 and someone who has already been studying and wants to continue their education into postgraduate study. Age should not automatically turn a continuous educational journey into a barrier.
This doesn't just affect individuals. It has wider consequences. The UK is already dealing with rising economic inactivity, increasing pressure on the NHS, and growing demand for social care. Loneliness in older people is also a recognised issue, and being cut off from work, learning, and community only makes that worse.
Supporting people to retrain later in life isn't a cost - it helps people stay independent, stay connected, and continue contributing to society. It's a practical way to reduce long-term pressure on public services, not increase it.
We call on the UK Government to:
Remove age-based restrictions on education and retraining
Support people over 60 to remain active, independent, and in work
Make sure policy matches the reality that people are living and working longer
45
The Issue
People are being told to work longer, stay active, and remain independent as they get older. But at the same time, once you reach 60, access to education and retraining becomes limited. That doesn't make sense.
Many people in their 50s and 60s are leaving work, often not because they want to, but because they can't find opportunities or get the support they need. Employers and the government are encouraging older people back into work - yet one of the main ways to do that, retraining, is restricted by age.
There is also a real gap between losing work and reaching State Pension age. People can find themselves too young for a pension, but struggling to get hired and then blocked from retraining as well.
As someone who recently graduated, I planned to continue straight into postgraduate study. I was invited to fast-track onto the MFA, but I had to ignore the emails because of my age. I've hit that barrier myself purely because of age, despite years of work to get here. I feel my studies ended midway. I've also spoken to other mature students who are in the same position.
People do not all reach their 60s from the same starting point. Caring responsibilities, illness, bereavement, financial hardship and other circumstances can delay education and employment for many years. Reaching 60 should not mean that those years of lost opportunity suddenly become a reason to deny someone the chance to continue.
There is also a difference between someone starting a completely new course after 60 and someone who has already been studying and wants to continue their education into postgraduate study. Age should not automatically turn a continuous educational journey into a barrier.
This doesn't just affect individuals. It has wider consequences. The UK is already dealing with rising economic inactivity, increasing pressure on the NHS, and growing demand for social care. Loneliness in older people is also a recognised issue, and being cut off from work, learning, and community only makes that worse.
Supporting people to retrain later in life isn't a cost - it helps people stay independent, stay connected, and continue contributing to society. It's a practical way to reduce long-term pressure on public services, not increase it.
We call on the UK Government to:
Remove age-based restrictions on education and retraining
Support people over 60 to remain active, independent, and in work
Make sure policy matches the reality that people are living and working longer
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Petition created on 9 August 2026