| SE 2188/2000
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8 August 2000
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PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION BY 16 TO 21 YEAR OLDS
IN SCOTLAND: 1988-89 TO 1998-99
A National Statistics Publication
Information on the Participation of 16 to 21 year olds in School,
Further and Higher Education in Scotland for academic sessions 1988-89 and 1994-95
to 1998-99 are published today jointly by The Scottish Executive Education Department
and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department.
The main findings are: -
- In 1998-99, 64 per cent of 16 to 21 year olds participated in some form
of full or part time education, compared to 42 per cent in 1988-89.
- For both males and females, total participation of 16 to 21 year olds in
education increased slightly between 1997-98 and 1998-99. A larger percentage
of females (67 per cent) participated in education in 1998-99 than males (62
per cent) due entirely to the higher participation rate for females in Higher
Education. There are small differences in participation between males and
females in School and Further Education. However, the slightly higher participation
of females in school education is offset by a slightly higher male participation
in Further Education. (Table 1)
- Participation in part time education increased across all ages of 16 to
21 year olds between 1997-98 and 1998-99. The percentage participating in
full time education remained stable between these years, at half of the total
16 to 21 population. The participation of 21 year olds in full time education
has shown the most marked growth when compared to 1988-89 levels, from 14
per cent to 34 per cent in 1998-99. (Table 2)
- The number of 16 year olds who participated in education fell slightly between
1997-98 and 1998-99, due to a reduction in the numbers of 16 year olds in
school, offset partially by an increase in those participating in part time
Further Education. However, the estimated population also fell over this period,
and by a larger amount, resulting in a slight increase in the participation
rate for 16 year olds from 93 per cent in 1997-98 to 94 per cent in 1998-99.
(Table 3)
- Three quarters of 17 year olds participated in education in 1998-99, a slight
increase on the previous year, and due to a small increase in the numbers
who were in part time Further Education. (Table 4)
- The numbers of 18 year olds in full time education fell slightly between
1997-98 and 1998-99. However, as the estimated population of 18 year olds
increased over this period, the participation rate in full time education
fell from 47 per cent to 45 per cent. However, participation in part time
Further Education increased, resulting in a small increase in total participation,
from 62 per cent in 1997-98 to 63 per cent in 1998-99. (Table 5)
- Even with a large increase in the estimated population of 19 year olds,
this age group showed the largest increase in participation, from 55 per cent
in 1997-98 to 59 per cent in 1998-99. This was due to increases in those undertaking
full time Higher Education and part time Further Education. There were also
small increases in the numbers undertaking full time Further Education and
part time Higher Education. (Table 6)
- Increases in the numbers undertaking full time Higher Education and part
time Further Education resulted in a small increase in the participation of
20 year olds in education, from 49 per cent in 1997-98 to 50 per cent in 1998-99.
(Table 7)
- The increase in numbers of 21 year olds participating in part time Further
Education, combined with a fall in the estimated population, resulted in an
increase in participation for 21 year olds, from 41 per cent in 1997-98 to
44 per cent in 1998-99. (Table 8)
The following tables are available:
Table 1 Participation in education of 16 to 21 year
olds by gender, individual age and level of education: 1997-98 and 1998-99
Table 2 Participation in education of 16 to 21 year
olds by mode of education and individual age: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 3 Participation in education of 16 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 4 Participation in education of 17 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 5 Participation in education of 18 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 6 Participation in education of 19 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 7 Participation in education of 20 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 8 Participation in education of 21 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 9 Participation in School Education of 16-18
year olds by individual age: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 10 Participation in Further Education of 16-21
year olds by mode of attendance and individual age: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 11 Participation in Higher Education of 16-21
year olds by mode of attendance and individual age: 1988-89 to 1998-99
Table 12 Young Scots undergraduate first entrants
to full-time higher education in the UK : 1988-89 to 1998-99
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. National Statistics Statement
This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced
to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice.
They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer
needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
2. Data Sources
2.1 Population
Population figures are based on the mid-year estimates from GRO(S), adjusted
to produce end-year population estimates.
2.2 School Education
2.2.1 Information on school pupil numbers is derived from data collected in
the annual September school census. The school figures cover pupils in all publicly
funded and independent secondary schools in Scotland, including special schools
and the small number of children who receive their education outwith school,
eg at home.
2.2.2 Age is as at 31 December. For secondary schools, a breakdown of pupil
numbers by age was collected in the census up to 1993-94; from 1994-95 onwards
the age breakdown has been estimated. For special schools, pupil numbers are
available by age.
2.2.3 For the purposes of this analysis, school pupils are assumed to be full-time
in the school system, though in practice some may spend part of their school
week studying at a further education college. These pupils have been counted
only in the school statistics.
2.2.4 It should be noted that pupils who left school at the winter leaving
date are not included in the figures shown for schools if they left school once
they became 16. However, they will be included in the further education totals
if they went on to attend a further education course in the relevant academic
year.
2.3 Further Education
2.3.1 Information on further education covers students who were undertaking
either non-advanced courses in Further Education institutions (FEIs) or Higher
Education institutions (HEIs). Further Education institutions (FEIs) are defined
to cover FE colleges and local authority day colleges. These institutions provide
both further and higher education courses - see notes under Higher Education
below, for a definition of these courses.
2.3.2 Since July 1999, information on activity in further education institutions
has been collected by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.
2.3.3 The collection of data on further education students in higher education
institutions (HEIs) was transferred to the Higher Education Statistics Agency
(HESA) in 1994. Prior to this, information was obtained from the HEIs and the
Universities’ Statistical Record.
2.3.4 The rest of the text in this section describes analysis of data for students
attending FEIs, whether undertaking Further or Higher Education Courses.
2.3.5 Student numbers are based on a count of students attending over the whole
session (1 Aug - 31 July). Age is calculated at 31 December of
the relevant session. Where student age is unknown, ages have been randomly
allocated based on the distribution of known ages.
2.3.6 Full time students include sandwich students. Withdrawals (students who
complete less than a quarter of the course) are excluded. Overseas students
(including those from other countries in the UK) are included in the figures;
Scottish students studying outwith Scotland are excluded.
2.3.7 In the collection of Further Education statistics, students are counted
once for each course taken. Participation by individuals has been estimated
by removing multiple enrolments and by excluding students who are based in Scottish
schools.
2.4 Higher Education
2.4.1 There are presently 20 higher education institutions in Scotland. Higher
education students may be following courses in either the FEIs or HEIs. Since
1994-95 the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), has supplied the information
for all students at HEIs.
2.4.2 The following definition of a higher education course, derived from the
Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, is used in the collection
of these statistics:
- a course at a higher level in preparation for a higher national diploma
or certificate;
- a first degree course;
- a course for the education and training of teachers
- a course of post-degree studies (including a higher degree course);
- a course at a higher level in preparation for a qualification from a professional
body;
- a course at a higher level not falling within any of the paragraphs (a)
to (e) above.
2.4.3 For the purposes of (a), (e) and (f) above, a course is regarded as providing
education at a ‘higher level’ if its standard is higher than the standard
of courses in preparation for examinations for:
- the Scottish Certificate of Education at Higher Grade;
- the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies;
- the General Certificate of Education of England and Wales or Northern Ireland
at advanced level;
- the Scottish Vocational Education Council National Certificate.
2.4.4 Courses at further or higher education institutions which are at a lower
level than higher education as defined above are treated as further education
in this analysis.
2.4.5 Student numbers are session counts by age at 31 December. Overseas students
(including those from other countries in the UK) are included in the figures.
The following groups of students are excluded:
- withdrawals (students who complete less than a quarter of the course);
- Scottish students studying outwith Scotland;
- Open University students.
2.4.6 It should be noted that the figures shown for higher education relate
to students attending courses of higher education in Scotland. In 1998-99, this
included an estimated 22,262 students domiciled outwith Scotland and excluded
an estimated 4,746 Scots-domiciled students attending courses of higher education
at institutions outwith Scotland. (This same point will apply, though to a much
lesser extent, in the figures for schools and further education.)
3. Definitions
3.1 Level of Education
All figures relating to higher and further education refer to the level of
the course of study and not the type of institution attended.
3.2 Rounding
Numbers and percentages within tables have been individually rounded and therefore
figures may not sum to the totals shown.
The following symbols have been used:
- nil or less than half the final digit
* not applicable
3.4 Age Participation Index (API)
The Age Participation Index (API) table has been included in this release for
comparison purposes. However, the figures are calculated on a different basis
to the rest of the tables. The API is a measure based on all young Scottish
students, aged under 21, who enter full time Higher Education anywhere in the
UK, expressed as a percentage of the population in Scotland aged 17.
4. Revisions
Some figures have been revised from those previously published.
4.1 The population estimates as at December 1997 in the previous publication
were estimated using population projections for 1997 and 1998. For this publication,
the calculation was revised using the mid-year estimates for those years to
produce the end-year estimates.
4.2 The school participation figures have been revised from those previously
published due to (a) small revisions in the school census data, and (b) revisions
to the age distribution calculations.
5. Enquiries
Copies of all tables are available on the Scottish Executive’s
website at www.scotland.gov.uk. Public
enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should
be addressed to Wilma Schofield, Statistician, The Scottish Executive Education
Department, Education Statistics, Area 1-A West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6
6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0303 or e-mail to: wilma.schofield@scotland.gov.uk.
SE 2188/2000
8 August 2000
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