§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many 16-year-olds left school at Easter in the current year; what are the figures for each of the last five years; and what percentages these figures are of (a) all 16-year-olds in education and (b) all 16-year-old school leavers in each case;
(2) how many 16-year olds left school at the end of the summer term in each of the last five years; and what percentages they were of (a) all 16-year-olds in education and (b) all 16-year-old school leavers, in each case.
§ Dr. BoysonFigures for the current academic year are not yet available. The following table gives the information for the last five years.
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England—Pupils Reaching School Leaving Age and Leaving School During the Academic Year Leaving at Easter * Leaving During the Summer Term As percent of all those reaching school leaving age during the year As percent of all those leaving who reached school leaving age during the year As percent of all those reaching school leaving age during the year As percent of all those leaving who reached school leaving age during the year No. (000s) Per cent. Per cent. No. (000s) Per cent. Per cent. 1975–76 54.44 7.7 11.3 427.39 60.6 88.7 1976–77 51.22 7.0 10.1 455.99 62.5 89.9 1977–78 49.27 6.6 9.4 475.38 63.5 90.6 1978–79 45.13 5.9 8.5 486.83 63.8 91.5 1979–80 (provisional) 41.61 5.3 7.7 497.43 63.4 92.3 * Including a small number leaving at Christmas.