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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics are maintained (a) nationally and (b) regionally providing details of the movement of pupils in the two years following GCSE. [8540] Mr. Paice: Statistics are collected by careers services on the first destinations of all 16-year-olds following the completion of their compulsory education. The local area statistics are aggregated to provide regional and national figures. The findings are normally published early the following year and the report on the destinations of the 1995 year group is expected shortly. In recent years the report has been published by the Association of County Councils with the support of the UK heads of careers services and the Department. Additionally, since 1985 the Department has funded the youth cohort study. This is a postal questionnaire survey of approximately 20,000 young people in their first year after the end of compulsory schooling. The sample is representative of young people of the given age group in England and Wales. Further questionnaires are sent to the same young people in each of the following two years, so providing information on their progress at 16-17, 17-18, 18-19 years of age. The YCS provides detailed information on the school experience, current activity, education, qualifications, employment and training of young people, together with a small amount of contextual socio-demographic background data. The study was designed to provide a national picture and reports normally concentrate on national figures.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

8540; 269 c515W;269 c513W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

School leaving Surveys GCSE