Key Data

  • Provisional results for 2007 show 59% of young people in the South West gained five or more A* to C grades at GCSE. Limited improvement in recent years on this measure means that the South West is now below the average for England as a whole – for the first time in a decade.

  • Within the region Bristol again significantly underperforms against national standards at GCSE and equivalent, although Swindon, Bournemouth, Devon, South Gloucestershire and Somerset all have a lower percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A* to C grades than the national average. Attainment is highest within the Isles of Scilly, Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Poole and Dorset.
  • Data for 2007 show attainment at GCE/A level is higher in the South West than England. Within the region average point scores by students are below the national average in just two Local Authority areas  - Plymouth and South Gloucestershire. Achievement is highest in Bournemouth with the average student gaining around 22 more points than the national average.
  • The working age population of the South West is generally well qualified. It has the third highest proportion of the working age population qualified to Level 4 and above, behind London and the South East but above the national average.
  • The proportion of adults without a Level 2 qualification has been decreasing steadily over time, from 33.6% in 2001 to 29.3% by 2006. Just under 10% of the working age population have no qualifications.
  • Although at a regional level the working age population looks well qualified, the nature of averages means that wide ranging disparities can be hidden. Looking at higher level skills (Level 4+), eight of the fifteen county/unitary authority areas within the region have proportions of qualified working age adults below the national average.