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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 18 to 22-year- olds from Rochdale were studying at university (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [217367] Dr. Howells: Participation rates for each parliamentary constituency are not calculated by the Department. The most recent information shows the proportion of 18-year-olds from Rochdale local education authority who obtained places on full-time higher education courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and this is shown in the table. Proportion of students aged 18 from Rochdale local education authority accepted through UCAS to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Academic year Percentage 1996-97 16.3 2003-04 18.0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. In addition, HEFCE have recently published "Young participation in Higher Education", which shows the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency, although this only covers the years up to 2000. A discussion of the participation divisions between areas with high and low levels of participation, and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report (sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1). The figures indicate that the proportion of young people from Rochdale who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 24 per cent. in 1997 and 25 per cent. in 2000.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

217367; 431 c1353-4W;431 c1347-8W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Higher education Take-up Students Rochdale

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk