§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of school leavers take a gap year before entering higher education; and what the figure was in 1997–98. [134687]
§ Mr. WicksThe latest available information is given in the following table. The figures cover those students with two or more A levels who gain a place on a full-time undergraduate course via the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) and then defer entry for a year. Students who defer their application to UCAS because they are taking a gap year are therefore excluded.
Accepted applicants with two or more A levels via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Year for which applicants were accepted for entry Autumn 1997 Autumn 1999 All accepted applicants with two or more A levels 183,123 183,852 of which: proportion deferring entry for a year 8.0 8.8