Key Data (Skills and Learning, State of the South West 2011)

> More than than a quarter (27%) of pupils in the South West who were known to be eligible for free school meals achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including maths and English in 2009/10 compared with almost three-fifths (58%) of those not eligible (Department for Education, GCSE attainment by pupil characteristics). Pupils eligible for free school meals in the South West did not perform as well as eligible pupils nationally (31%).

> Almost 6% of young people aged 16-18 in the South West were not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) during 2009/10. Rates have not changed substantially over the last two years (Department for Education, Connexions Data).

> Around three-quarters of 19 year olds (77%) and adults of working age (73%) have a qualification at Level 2 or above. Just over half (51%) of both age groups have a qualification at Level 3 or above. Almost one-third (30%) of adults of working age have a graduate-level qualification (Level 4 or above).

> More than two-fifths (42%) of South West residents aged 17 and over who had finished full-time education were current or recent learners in 2009. One-in-seven (14%) of South West residents of working age had undertaken work-related training in the last four weeks in 2009.