§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of full time students remained in education in the Romsey constituency after the age of(a) 16 and (b) 18 years in the last year for which figures are available. [155851]
§ Mr. Wicks [holding answer 28 March 2001]At the heart of our drive to improve participation and attainment is the new Connexions Service which we will be phasing in from April this year. The service will provide information, advice, support and access to personal development opportunities for all 13–19 year olds, whatever their needs and circumstances, to keep them learning. Latest figures show that the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England fell by 28,000 from 185,000 in 1998 to 157,000 in 1999.
Data on the percentage of students continuing in post-compulsory education at age 16 are not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs, and participation rates by LEA are only available for 16 and 17-year-olds.
In 1998–99 (the last year for which figures are available) the percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education for Hampshire LEA, which includes the constituency of Romsey, was 70 per cent.