State of the South West 2008

Further Education

Young People's Participation in Further Education and Training

4.33 The majority of 16 and 17 year olds in the region remain in full-time education. Provisional data for 2005 from the DfES shows 77% of 16 year olds and 63% of 17 year olds remained in full-time education.  This makes the South West consistently one of the best performing regions in terms of staying-on rates. The numbers participating in Work-Based-Learning (WBL), by comparison, are relatively small.  This trend is particular to the regions in the southern half of the country and this may be accounted for by differences in the industrial structure between the northern and southern regions.

4.34 Within the South West, participation rates (including full-time, part-time and WBL) vary considerably. The highest participation rates for 16 year olds are seen in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Cornwall and Wiltshire, while the lowest rates are seen in Poole, Bournemouth and Torbay, below the national average. For 17 year olds, the pattern of participation is similar with the highest rates in Bath and North East Somerset, and the lowest rates, below the national average, in Plymouth, Poole Dorset and North Somerset.

Figure 4.3 Participation in Education and Training of 16 and 17 Year Olds Combined, 2005 by LEA, percentages (Popup full image)