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CHAPTER FOUR: CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNERS TAKING UP ESOL
4.1 This chapter largely draws on the information about learners provided by FE colleges supplemented where possible by information gained from other providers.
Characteristics of learners
4.2 Overall, ESOL learners are primarily female, making up 60.7% of learners in FE colleges in 2004-05. Ethnicity and age will be more thoroughly explored below.
4.3 Certain learner characteristics were not thoroughly reported, such as employment status and previous qualifications. The disability status of ESOL learners is collected by the SFC in colleges which it funds. However, the quality of this data is poor, with more than half of learners not reporting whether or not they had a disability.
Ethnicity of learners
4.4 We are able to estimate the scale of take up of ESOL provision in FE Colleges for A8 Nationals using the category 'White' as a proxy. Table 4.1 below provides data on the ethnicity of learners at FE colleges.
Table 4.1 Ethnicity of Learners (%)
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
|---|
White | 28.3 | 44.7 | 49.7 |
|---|
Asian - Indian Subcontinent | 7.9 | 9.0 | 7.5 |
|---|
Chinese | 5.5 | 6.3 | 5.0 |
|---|
Other Asian | 5.3 | 7.1 | 7.9 |
|---|
Black | 5.3 | 7.4 | 8.1 |
|---|
Mixed | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
|---|
Any other | 39.0 | 14.5 | 11.6 |
|---|
unknown/information refused | 7.9 | 10.2 | 9.4 |
|---|
Source: SFC
4.5 In 2003-4, the category White people made up a little over a quarter of the FE college ESOL learners (28.3%). This changed significantly in 2004-5 increasing to 40% of the learners, and by 2005-6 nearly half of all ESOL learners were White. Though we cannot assume that every learner in the "White" category is an A8 migrant, the large increase in this category suggests that EU enlargement has had a significant impact on ESOL take-up. The increase of White learners does vary by area, however. Tables 4.2 and 4.3 below provide data on the ethnicity of ESOL learners in FE Colleges by area.
Table 4.2 Ethnicity of learners (number and % by region)
2003-04 | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
|---|
White | Asian | Black | Mixed | Any Other |
|---|
South West | 18 | 38.3 | 18 | 38.3 | 4 | 8.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 14.9 |
|---|
South East | 6 | 19.4 | 15 | 48.4 | 4 | 12.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 19.4 |
|---|
Central | 85 | 44.3 | 76 | 39.6 | 17 | 8.9 | 1 | 0.5 | 13 | 6.8 |
|---|
Central East | 1244 | 64.7 | 373 | 19.4 | 63 | 3.3 | 31 | 1.6 | 177 | 9.2 |
|---|
Central West | 683 | 10.6 | 1218 | 18.9 | 431 | 6.7 | 25 | 0.4 | 3588 | 55.7 |
|---|
Fife and Tayside | 588 | 73.2 | 109 | 13.6 | 4 | 0.5 | 11 | 1.4 | 34 | 4.2 |
|---|
Highlands/ WI | 71 | 78.9 | 13 | 14.4 | 1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.6 |
|---|
North East/ NI | 142 | 28.5 | 54 | 10.8 | 8 | 1.6 | 3 | 0.6 | 83 | 16.7 |
|---|
TOTAL - SCOTLAND | 2837 | 28.3 | 1876 | 18.7 | 532 | 5.3 | 71 | 0.7 | 3913 | 39.0 |
|---|
Source: SFC
Table 4.3 Ethnicity of learners (number and % by region)
2005-06 | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
|---|
White | Asian | Black | Mixed | Any Other |
|---|
South West | 100 | 62.9 | 43 | 27.0 | 2 | 1.3 | 3 | 1.9 | 11 | 6.9 |
|---|
South East | 17 | 89.5 | 2 | 10.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
|---|
Central | 275 | 70.2 | 70 | 17.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 47 | 12.0 |
|---|
Central East | 1956 | 75.3 | 365 | 14.1 | 73 | 2.8 | 19 | 0.7 | 111 | 4.3 |
|---|
Central West | 1174 | 28.3 | 1249 | 30.1 | 688 | 16.6 | 39 | 0.9 | 697 | 16.8 |
|---|
Fife and Tayside | 577 | 49.0 | 128 | 10.9 | 14 | 1.2 | 4 | 0.3 | 35 | 3.0 |
|---|
Highlands/ WI | 195 | 79.9 | 11 | 4.5 | 2 | 0.8 | 4 | 1.6 | 3 | 1.2 |
|---|
North East/ NI | 552 | 54.4 | 116 | 11.4 | 14 | 1.4 | 2 | 0.2 | 230 | 22.7 |
|---|
TOTAL - SCOTLAND | 4846 | 49.7 | 1984 | 20.4 | 793 | 8.1 | 71 | 0.7 | 1134 | 11.6 |
|---|
Source: SFC
4.6 The most significant increase in the category White learners has been in North East/ NI, with the White ESOL population in FE Colleges more than doubled between 2003-04 and 2005-06. The number of White learners in FE colleges also nearly doubled in Central West, from 683 to 1174. Fife and Tayside has remained steady, as most ESOL in that region is not provided through FE Colleges.
4.7 Though the percentage of learners in the remaining categories (Asian, Black, and Others) has dropped, the absolute numbers of these learners has remained relatively stable. This suggests that the increase in FE College learners between 2003 and 2006 has been the result of more White learners enrolling in courses.
4.8 Most areas have seen a drop in the proportion of Asian learners in FE Colleges, with the exception of North East/ NI, where the percentage remains steady, and Central West, were the percentage has increased from 18.9% to 30.1%. The absolute numbers of Asian learners has increased slightly overall. While Black learners remain a small proportion of ESOL learners in FE Colleges, they have increased slightly from 5.3% in 2003-4 to 8.1% in 2005-6, with the largest increase in Central West.
4.9 A large percentage of learners have been categorized as 'Any Other', with 39% in 2003-4, 14.5% in 2004-5, and 11.6% in 2005-6. The largest drop in the 'Any Other' category was in Central West, where it dropped from 55.7% (3855 learners) to 16.8% (697 learners). This suggests that ethnicity-categorisation has improved over time, as well as a potential drop in groups that may have traditionally been categorized as 'Any Other' (Central Asian, Middle-Eastern, Northern African, mixed race, etc.). A large number of asylum seekers have also previously been categorised as 'Any Other' 31, suggesting a drop in asylum seeker enrolment in FE colleges in Central West.
Age of Learners
4.10 Table 4.4 describes the age characteristics of FE College learners for 2004-5.
Table 4.4 Age Profile of FE college learners (%)
Age groups | 2004-5 |
|---|
16 & Under | 6.3 |
|---|
17-20 | 9.5 |
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21-29 | 37.6 |
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30-39 | 27.8 |
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40-49 | 13.0 |
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50-59 | 4.4 |
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60 + | 1.3 |
|---|
Source: SFC
4.11 The majority of ESOL learners in FE Colleges are between the ages of 21 and 29, with over half (65.4%) aged between 21 and 39. Just over 5% are aged over 50. This suggests the majority of ESOL learners are in the middle-band of the working age population.
4.12 This roughly parallels the age throughout although not the gender characteristics of A8 migrants. Figure 4.1 below shows that new migrants joining the WRS (Worker Registration Scheme) are overwhelmingly aged 18-34 with the largest group aged between 18 and 24. This reflects that the majority of A8 migrants are young working-age population.
Figure 4.1 Age profile of new registrations on the WRS in Scotland
Source: WRS
Key points from this chapter
- There is no thorough or consistent data available for learners' employment status, disability or previous qualifications;
- The majority of ESOL learners are female, making up 60.7% of the FE college population;
- The number and proportion of BME learners has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in Central West. By 05-06 nearly half of all learners fall into the category White, which indicates that the numbers of A8 migrants in ESOL courses have grown substantially;
- The number of 'White' learners varies by region, where the most significant increase has been in North East/ NI and Central West. Fife and Tayside has remained steady;
- Most areas have seen a drop in Asian learners except in North East/ NI and Central West;
- A large percentage of learners fall in the 'Any Other' category. The largest decrease in learners in this category was in Central West which may reflect a falling proportion of asylum seekers among learners;
- Most learners are aged between 21 and 39 just as the majority of A8 migrants seem to be.
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