Lewisham College welcomed two MPs in light of recent proposals to raise the school leaving age to 18.

The Chancellor Gordon Brown and Education Secretary Alan Johnson visited the college to meet the students and learn more about how young people are being equipped with skills necessary for the future.

The green paper Raising Expectations, which was published last Thursday, outlines plans for all young people to remain in work-related training or education until they turn 18 from 2015.

In a technical computing skills class, the students told Mr Johnson they welcomed the new plans.

The Chancellor and Education Secretary also spent time in an e-kitchen lesson observing students using the classroom camera which relayed images to their computer monitors.

Mr Brown made an effort to shake hands and meet almost every student in the lesson.

Mr Johnson said: "The college won't have any problems engaging them up to the age of 18."

At the end of the visit, Mr Brown commended the staff on the enthusiasm of the students. He said: "Since 1997, the numbers of 16 to 24-year-olds in full-time education, employment or training has increased from 5.2 million to 5.8 million.

"Alongside increased investment in skills and training, for the first time in our country's history we will make education right for every young person until the age of 18 and ensure they take the opportunities open to them."