News Release
PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION BY 16 TO 21 YEAR OLDS IN SCOTLAND: 1989-90 TO 1999-2000A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION This document is also available in pdf format (884k) Information on the participation of 16 to 21 year olds in school, further and
higher education in Scotland for academic sessions 1989-90 and 1995-96 to 1999-00
are published today jointly by the Scottish Executive Education Department and
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department. The main findings are: -
- In 1999-00, 61 per cent of 16 to 21 year olds participated in some form
of full or part time education, compared to 43 per cent in 1989-90.
- A larger percentage of females (63 per cent) participated in education in
1999-00 than males (58 per cent). This was mainly due to the higher participation
rates in full time higher education. (Table 1)
- Participation in part time education has decreased slightly between 1989-90
and 1999-00. However, the percentage participating in full time education
has increased between these years, from 29 per cent in 1989-90 to 50 per cent
in 1999-00. (Table 2)
- Since the previous year (1998-99), the percentage of 16 year olds who participated
in full time education increased from 80 per cent to 82 per cent in 1999-00.
There was a corresponding decrease in the percentage of 16 year olds in part
time education from 11 per cent to 9 per cent in 1999-00. (Table
3)
- A total of 70 per cent of 17 year olds participated in education in 1999-00,
a slight decrease on the previous year (73 per cent). This was mainly due
to a fall in the numbers who were in part time further education (from 14
per cent to 11 per cent). (Table 4)
- Over the last five years, the percentage of 18 and 19 year olds in education
has remained relatively steady with 58 per cent of 18 year olds and 54 per
cent of 19 year olds in some form of full or part time education in 1999-00.
(Table 5 andTable 6)
- The percentage of 20 and 21 year olds in higher education has gradually
increased over the last five years with 40 per cent of 20 year olds and 35
per cent of 21 year olds in full or part time higher education in 1999-00.
(Table 7 and 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 1999-00
Table 2 Participation in education of 16 to 21 year
olds by mode of education and individual age: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 3 Participation in education of 16 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 4 Participation in education of 17 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 5 Participation in education of 18 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 6 Participation in education of 19 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 7 Participation in education of 20 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 8 Participation in education of 21 year olds
by mode and level of education: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 9 Participation in School Education of 16-18
year olds by individual age: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 10 Participation in Further Education of 16-21
year olds by mode of attendance and individual age: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 11 Participation in Higher Education of 16-21
year olds by mode of attendance and individual age: 1989-90 to 1999-00
Table 12 Young Scots undergraduate first entrants
to full-time higher education in the UK : 1989-90 to 1999-00 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 General Register
Office for Scotland, adjusted to produce end-year population estimates. 2.2 School Education
2.21 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. 2.22 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. 2.23 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. 2.24 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
2.31 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. 2.32 Since July 1999, information on activity in further education institutions
has been collected by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. 2.33 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. 2.34 The rest of the text in this section describes analysis of data for students
attending FEIs, whether undertaking further or higher education Courses. 2.35 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 allocated
based on the distribution of known ages. 2.36 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. 2.37 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
2.41 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. 2.42 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) a course at a higher level in preparation for a higher national diploma
or certificate;
b) a first degree course;
c) a course for the education and training of teachers
d) a course of post-degree studies (including a higher degree course);
e) a course at a higher level in preparation for a qualification from a professional
body;
f) 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: a) the Scottish Certificate of Education at Higher Grade or National Qualification
at Higher level;
b) the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies;
c) the General Certificate of Education of England and Wales or Northern Ireland
at advanced level;
d) 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: a) withdrawals (students who complete less than a quarter of the course);
b) Scottish students studying outwith Scotland;
c) 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 courses at Scottish higher
education institutions (HEIs). In 1999-00, this figure includes an estimated
25,567 students domiciled outwith Scotland studying a higher education course
at a Scottish higher education institution (compare with 22,261 in 1998-99).
It excludes an estimated 6,257 Scottish domiciled students who study higher
education courses at higher education institutions outwith Scotland (compared
with 4,946 in 1998-99). This same point also applies, to a lesser extent, to
the data covering school activity and further education activity. The estimates
above have been revised for the 1998-99 session, and supersede any previously
published data. Revisions are due to improved methodology. 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. 3.3 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. Further
details of this can be obtained from the News Release issued 10 May 2001 entitled
'Students in higher education Scotland 1999-00'. 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 Laura Beahan, 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: laura.beahan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should contact: Contact: Fiona Wilson: (0131) 244 2910
News Release: XXXX/00
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