Nearly five
million people took part in a Learning and Skills Council funded
Further Education course in 2008/09, according to statistics
published today.
The figures, published by the Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (BIS), also show that more than 3.3 million people
achieved a Further Education qualification in 2008/09.
The statistics show some of the huge achievements made in
delivering skills and training in 2008/09.
These include:
· A record 239,900 Apprenticeship starts, and 143,400
Apprenticeship achievements in 2008/09;
· Over one million people achieving a qualification through Train
to Gain, and 1.6 million qualifications started through Train to
Gain since the scheme was launched in April 2006;
· Between 2000/01 and 2008/09 provisional figures show that so
far 3.24 million working age adults have improved their basic
skills and achieved a qualification in literacy or numeracy,
against a Public Service Agreement target of 2.25 million, two
years early.
Further Education, Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Kevin
Brennan, said:
“I am immensely proud of all the people who have taken part and
achieved a qualification in the last year. It is important their
achievements and contribution to the businesses they work for and
the economy as a whole is recognised.
“These figures are evidence that we are backing young Britain
during the recession and the recovery, and that training is more
diverse now than ever. But we will not be complacent. We will
continue to ensure that plenty of opportunities are available to
help people carve out a career and deliver the jobs of the future.”
The figures published today also include statistics for the first
six months of the 2009/10 academic year. Although these figures
cannot be compared to last year because they are provisional and
not complete, they do show that so far there have been 146,100
Apprenticeship starts and 63,900 Apprenticeship achievements in
2009/10. Since 1996/7 there have been 2.25 million Apprenticeship starts.
Provisional data also shows that there have been 250,600 Train to
Gain starts, and 218,000 Train to Gain achievements in the first
six months of the 2009/10 academic year.
Geoff Russell, LSC Chief Executive, said:
“These figures show how the further education sector continues to
make a huge difference to the lives of millions of young people
and adults as well as contributing to the success of many
thousands of businesses.
“With the Skills Funding Agency coming into existence on 1 st
April, we will continue to work with colleges and training
organisations to build on what has already been achieved. The
sector is now well placed to help build a stronger economy and a
more confident and equitable society.”
From next Thursday (April 1) the Skills Funding Agency will take
over the responsibilities of the Learning and Skills Council. This
move will ensure skills funding can respond flexibly to the
changing needs and demands of employers and students.
Notes to editors
1.1. Post-16 Education and Skills: Learner Participation,
Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification held can be found at
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrmar10.
2. Early data for 2009/10 is still provisional, and many of the
statistics shown in this release will increase when further data
returns are completed by Further Education providers. Figures for
2009/10 will be updated in the June Statistical First Release.
3. The Government’s PSA target to increase the number of
apprenticeship completions to 130,000 by 2010/11 has been achieved
two years early.
4. The Government’s PSA target to improve the basic skills of
2.25 million working-age adults by 2010, has been met over two
years ahead of the target completion date.
5. BIS announced that 1 million people achieved a qualification
through Train to Gain in 2008/09 earlier this month. The press
notice for this can be found at www.bis.gov.uk.
6. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published
Skills for Growth – the National Skills Strategy in
November 2009, which sets out an ambitious vision for giving
people and businesses the skills they need to help drive economic
growth. The Government will create a modern class of technicians
through a dramatic expansion of advanced apprenticeships, creating
35,000 new places over the next two years. For further
information, see:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Joanna Fletcher
Phone: 020 7215 5951
Joanna.Fletcher@bis.gsi.gov.uk