The Scottish Government

Definitions:

Not in education, employment or training excludes 16-19 year olds who are at school or in further or higher education and those in employment. Employment follows a standard ONS definition: people aged 16 or over are classed as employed by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) if they have done at least one hour of work in the reference week or are temporarily away from a job (e.g. on holiday). Those classified as employed belong to one of the following four categories: employees, self-employed, unpaid family worker (doing unpaid work for a family-run business) or participating in a government-supported training programme. People who are economically inactive but caring for family members are excluded but people who are economically inactive due to ill health and other reasons are included.

The proportion of 16-19 year olds will be calculated by comparing the number of individuals fitting the above definition with the total population of 16-19 year olds.

Data:

The Spring Quarter Labour Force Survey (LFS) is used to calculate the number of 16-19 year olds not in education, training or employment and this is shown as a percentage of the total population in Scotland of that age.

Data on proportions for Spring of each year are published annually in the Scottish Executive publication 'Social Justice...a Scotland where EVERYONE matters'. This data is published disaggregated by gender in the accompanying technical report.

Who produces the data:

The Labour Force Survey carried out by the ONS records the relevant data on a quarterly basis. As noted above, this data is then published in the Scottish Executive publication 'Social Justice...a Scotland where EVERYONE matters'.

Exact time period:

The baseline figure for this indicator is quarter 1 (Spring) 2001.

Timeliness of the data:

Data are published 3 months after the end of the quarter to which the data refer. The data are also published annually in the Scottish Executive/Enterprise Networks publication 'Joint Performance Team: Measuring Scotland's Progress towards a Smart Successful Scotland'

Past Trends:

The proportion of 16-19 year olds not in education, training or employment in Spring 2001 was unchanged on the 10 years prior to 2001 at 14% in 1991 and 2001. It also remains at 14% for Spring 2002. It reached a high of 16% in Spring 1995 and a low of 13% in Spring 1999.

Quality Evaluation:

The Labour Force Survey is published by the ONS and, as such, meets the rigorous quality control standards imposed by ONS. The quality of the data will be improved when Census 2001 data are introduced in Autumn 2003.

Definitions:

Support in the context of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA) is a stepped, means-tested, weekly allowance paid to young people during term time, who are from low-income families and stay on in school and further education.

Increase support means to increase the number of people who are paid the EMA.

Low-income families eligible for support through EMA are those where: total income is less than 25,000 per annum. The figure of 25,000 is subject to confirmation by DfES and Treasury who are presently considering the definition of low-income families.

The participation rate is the number of 16-19 year olds from low-income families in education expressed as a proportion of the total population of 16-19 year olds from low-income families in Scotland.

Raising of Retention rates is indicated by reduced number of winter leavers, increased completion of S5 and increases in rate of S5 pupils entering S6.

Individuals will only be considered to have taken up the EMA programme, if they remain in education throughout the academic year for which EMAs are paid. If individuals drop out of education after payment of EMA has commenced, payments will be discontinued and the individual concerned will not contribute to the participation and retention figures.

Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA) were initially introduced in Scotland in a single pilot area in 1999-00 and then extended to 3 further Scottish pilot areas in 2001-02. The intention is that the scheme will be rolled out across Scotland, although the detail of the roll-out has yet to be determined. Discussions are continuing on the possible method of assessment and delivery of EMAs. The actual assessment and delivery methods used at the time of roll-out may be different from the method currently used by the Scottish Executive.

Data:

Data collected through the take up of the EMA programme (measured by the number of applications) will be used to determine if:

• the number of individuals supported has increased;

and also to provide an initial indication of whether:

• the Participation rate has increased; and
• the Retention rate has increased.

• Definitive figures on participation and retention will be available after the end of the academic year.

Who produces the data:

Take up data (i.e. number of applications) is collected by schools, FE colleges and local authorities. These data will be collated by local authorities and provided by them to the Executive.

Definitive figures on participation and retention may be provided by research teams, as with the pilot schemes. However, this will be determined once the programme for rolling out the EMA scheme has been set.

Exact time period:

Participation and Retention (this means staying the course - see above) data would only be available at the end of the academic year, when it can be verified that individuals have been supported as defined above. The base year for measurement of progress against the indicator will be the academic year 2001-02.

Timeliness of the data:

Initial take up data would be supplied monthly from local authorities.

The date on which definitive figures on participation and retention will be available will be dependent on the method by which EMAs are rolled out. As noted, this has yet to be determined.

Past Trends:

Accepted evidence shows low progression of young people from low-income families to post-16 education.

For Scotland as a whole, participation in education from low-income families for 16-19 year olds was 37% in 2001.

Milestones:

The milestone for 2005-06 will be determined once the programme for rolling out the EMA scheme has been set. This will be dependent on the outcome of DfES/Treasury deliberations on EMAs.

Quality Evaluation:

Management information from the local authorities on participation would require a 'health warning' until November/December of each year.

Participation and retention statistics are similar to those provided to HMI and Education Statistics and are therefore considered accurate.

Definitive figures on participation and retention were provided for the pilot schemes by research teams set up specifically for this task. Their work in the evaluation of East Ayrshire is considered sound by all interested parties.

Definitions:

Graduates are any individuals whose highest qualification is either a first degree or a higher degree.

The workforce refers to the total of those in employment. Employment follows a standard Office of National Statistics (ONS) definition: people aged 16 or over are classed as employed by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) if they have done at least one hour of work in the reference week or are temporarily away from a job (e.g. on holiday). Those classified as employed belong to one of the following four categories: employees, self-employed, unpaid family worker (doing unpaid work for a family-run business) or participating in a government-supported training programme.

Data:

LFS statistics show the highest qualification held by individuals in employment. Data at the Scottish level are published annually in the Scottish Executive/Enterprise Networks' publication 'Joint Performance Team: Measuring Scotland's Progress towards a Smart Successful Scotland'.

Who produces the data:

The LFS carried out by the ONS records the number of people in the workforce. The total number in the workforce (workforce participants) is split into the number of workforce participants by highest qualification.

Exact time period:

The data gathered by ONS are not seasonally adjusted. For the purposes of assessing progress against this indicator annual figures will be used. The latest year for which figures are available is the calendar year 2001. This is the baseline year.

Timeliness of the data:

Data are available 3 months after the end of the last quarter to which the data refers. Annual figures are published 4 months after the end of the year.

Past Trends:

The proportion of graduates in the workforce has increased slightly from 16% in 1999 and 16% in 2000 to 18% in 2001.

Quality Evaluation:

Results of the LFS are published by ONS and, as such, meets the rigorous quality control standards imposed by ONS.

Definitions:

Below SCQF level 5 qualification includes those with no qualifications or without credit standard grades, highers/advanced highers, SVQ2-5, or a higher education qualification or other professional qualifications.

Working age is defined as women aged 16-59 and men aged 16-64 inclusive.

The proportion will be calculated by comparing the number of individuals whose highest qualification fits the above description compared with the total number of working age people.

Data:

Labour Force Survey (LFS) statistics show the highest qualification held by individuals in employment.

Who produces the data:

The LFS carried out by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) records the highest qualification of people.

Exact time period:

The data gathered by ONS are not seasonally adjusted. For the purposes of assessing progress against this indicator annual figures will be used. The latest year for which figures are available is the calendar year 2001, the baseline year.

Timeliness of the data:

Data are available 3 months after the end of the last quarter to which the data refers. Annual figures are published 4 months after the end of the year.

Past Trends:

The proportion of working age adults who have qualifications below SCQF level 5 has decreased from 30% in 1997 and 27% in 2001.

Quality Evaluation:

Results of the LFS are published by ONS and, as such, meets the rigorous quality control standards imposed by ONS.

Definitions:

Below SCQF level 6 qualification includes those with no qualifications or without highers/advanced highers/SVQ3-5 or other equivalent higher education qualification.

The proportion of 18-29 year olds will be calculated by comparing the number of individuals whose highest qualification is below SCQF level 6 compared with the total number of 18-29 year olds.

Data:

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) statistics show the highest qualification held by individuals in employment.

Who produces the data:

The LFS carried out by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) records the highest qualification of people.

Exact time period:

The data gathered by ONS are not seasonally adjusted. For the purposes of assessing progress against this indicator quarterly Spring figures will be used. The latest year for which figures are available is Spring 2002. The baseline year is 2001.

Timeliness of the data:

Data are available 3 months after the end of the last quarter to which the data refers. Annual figures are published 4 months after the end of the year.

Past Trends:

The proportion of 18-29 year olds who have qualifications below SCQF level 6 has decreased from 40% in 1997 and 36% in 2000 to 33% in 2002.

Quality Evaluation:

Results of the LFS are published by ONS and, as such, meets the rigorous quality control standards imposed by ONS.

Definitions:

The number of people in employment refers to the number of people of working age who are in employment.

Working age is defined as women aged 16-59 and men aged 16 -64 years inclusive.

People in employment follows a standard Office of National Standards (ONS) definition: people are classed as employed by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) if they have done at least one hour of work in the reference week or are temporarily away from a job (e.g. on holiday). Those classified as employed belong to one of the following four categories: employees, self-employed, unpaid family worker (doing unpaid work for a family-run business) or participating in a government-supported training programme.

Training is defined as all job-related training received by employees within the 3 months prior to the survey date. Individuals themselves are relied on to define whether they have undertaken job-related training.

People in full-time education are excluded from this target as are those who are on government training programmes who are on college-based programmes.

Data:

Data for this indicator will be published annually in the Scottish Economic Statistics publication produced by the Scottish Executive.

Who produces the data:

The LFS carried out by the ONS records the relevant data on a quarterly basis.

Exact time period:

LFS data are available from ONS on a quarterly basis. The baseline figure against which performance towards this target will be measured is quarter 1 (Spring) 2001.

Timeliness of the data:

Scottish and UK quarterly data are available 3 months after the end of the quarter to which the statistics relate.

Past Trends:

The proportion of those in employment undertaking training has increased gradually from around 22% in Spring 1995 to 28% in Spring 2002. The data series exhibits a seasonal pattern around this long-term trend.

Quality Evaluation:

The LFS is published by the ONS and, as such, meets the rigorous quality control standards imposed by ONS.