HC Deb 22 July 1981 vol 9 cc131-2W
Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, and (d) 19 year-olds remaining at school beyond school leaving age in the Northern region and England for the latest available date and for the last five years.

Dr. Boyson

The percentage of pupils aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 years in January who remained at maintained schools other than special schools in the Northern region and England for the years 1975 to 1980 are given below.

Age (years) in January*
16

%

17

%

18

%

19

%

Northern region
1975 18.7 15.4 5.2 0.3
1976 19.2 15.7 5.3 0.3
1977 19.2 15.8 5.6 0.3
1978 18.5 15.5 5.4 0.3
1979 18.8 15.2 5.1 0.3
1980 19.8 15.5 5.5 0.3

Age (years) in January*
16

%

17

%

18

%

19

%

England
1975 23.5 17.6 5.7 0.4
1976 25.0 18.5 5.9 0.4
1977 25.6 19.0 6.3 0.4
1978 24.4 18.7 6.1 0.4
1979 24.5 18.4 6.1 0.4
1980 25.0 18.5 6.1 0.5
* Numbers of pupils aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 years in January as percentages of the relevant numbers aged 14 years, two, three, four and five years earlier respectively. The 16 year age group excludes pupils with birthdays from September to December who were, therefore, under school-leaving age.