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Literacy and Numeracy (Hampshire)

Answer

[holding answer 31 January 2006]: The Department does not collect annual data on adult literacy and numeracy skills and it is therefore not possible to provide estimates for 1997 and 2005. However, in 2002/03, the Department for Education and Skills conducted the ‘Skills for Life Survey'. This is a national needs and impact survey of literacy and numeracy, which provides estimates of the level of basic skills within England among adults aged 16–65 years old.The assessment levels correspond to the literacy and numeracy National Standards: these were introduced in 2002 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy and numeracy from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C).The survey provides estimates for Learning and Skills Council areas and districts. Within the Learning and Skills Council area of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight, the Skills for Life Survey estimates that around 7 per cent. of adults had literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) and around 43 per cent. had numeracy levels below Level 1 (Table 1 and 2).

Table 1: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Literacy	Number	Percentage
Entry Level 1 Skills and below	6,025	1
Entry Level 2 Skills	5,430	0
Entry Level 3 Skills	61,295	6
Total Entry Level Skills	72,750	7
Level 1 Skills	464,400	42
Level 2 Skills and above	572,100	52

Table 2: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Numeracy	Number	Percentage
Entry Level 1 Skills and below	23,400	2
Entry Level 2 Skills	116,730	11
Entry Level 3 Skills	335,470	30
Total Entry Level Skills	475,600	43
Level 1 Skills	339,000	31
Level 2 Skills and above	294,900	27

At a district level, the Skills for Life Survey estimates around 10 per cent. of adults have literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) within Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight and around 50 per cent. have numeracy levels below level 1 (Table 3 and 4).

Table 3: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Districts
	Total Entry Level			Level 1 Skills			Level 2 Skills
Literacy	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Portsmouth	10,340	9	55,890	47	51,540	44
Southampton	14,140	10	63,140	45	62,850	45
Isle of Wight	7,820	10	35,970	47	32,950	43

Table 4: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Districts
	Total Entry Level			Level 1 Skills			Level 2 Skills
Numeracy	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Portsmouth	62,540	53	35,900	30	19,330	16
Southampton	77,700	55	41,340	30	21,080	15
Isle of Wight	39,010	51	23,910	31	13,810	18

A copy of the full report of this survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library and all geographical estimates are on the Skills for Life website [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus_skillsforlifesurvey/].

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

47482; 442 c501-2W;442 c501-2W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Isle of Wight Southampton Literacy Hampshire Portsmouth Numeracy

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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