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Written question asked by Damien Moore (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 May 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 May 2021. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 on behalf of the Department for Education.

School Leaving: Merseyside

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of trends in the number of white working-class boys leaving school without qualifications in (a) Southport and (b) Sefton Borough.

Answer

The information requested is not held centrally in the form requested. There is no official definition for the term “working class” and it is not used by the Department for Education in formal statistics.

Young people can leave a school setting at age 16 or age 18. National statistics are published on the proportion of young people achieving level 2 qualifications (level 2 is 5 (or more) GCSEs at grades 9-4/A*-C or equivalent) by ages 16 to 19. Figures are published by pupil characteristics including free school meal (FSM) eligibility which can be used as an indicative measure for low income. Information provided is for those not achieving level 2 but that does not mean they left school with no qualifications.

In the Sefton local authority, the total proportion of 16 year olds not achieving level 2 is 37% in the 2019/20 academic year compared with 30% five years ago. Looking at those who were eligible for FSM, 65% had not achieved level 2 compared with 50% five years ago.

At age 18 in Sefton, the total proportion not achieving level 2 was 22% in 2019/20 compared with 15% five years ago. Looking at those who were eligible for FSM, 47% had not achieved level 2 compared with 30% five years ago.

The accompanying table shows a five year time series for both ages and includes gender and those not eligible for FSM. Comparable figures are not available for Southport or by ethnicity.

National estimates which show level 2 attainment by gender, FSM status and ethnicity are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/level-2-and-3-attainment-by-young-people-aged-19/2019-20. These detailed breakdowns are not published by local authority.

The Department remains committed to providing world class education, training and care for everyone, whatever their background, and taking the action needed to address disparities.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
3146
Session
2021-22
Attachment
1346_table
Subjects
Qualifications School leaving Southport Sefton
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk