HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 c77W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the number of pupils staying in education after 16 years of age in England and Wales.

Mr. Jackson

In 1987–88, 627,000 16-year-olds were participating in education or in the youth training scheme (YTS) in England and Wales. The details are as follows:

Number
Full and part-time education 396,000
Youth Training Scheme 185,000
Evening only 46,000

This represents an overall participation rate of 82 per cent.