HC Deb 29 January 1986 vol 90 cc536-7W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the age distribution of students in (a) further and (b) higher education according to the following ranges: 18 to 21 years, 22 to 25 years, 26 to 35 years, 35 to 45 years and 45 plus years.

Mr. Walden

The table shows the readily available information on student numbers in the 1984–85 academic year by age. Evening only figures in further education have not been shown because of difficulties over multiple enrolments.

Thousands
Age range Non-advanced Further Education (England) Public Sector Higher Education (England) Universities (Great Britain)
Full-time Part-time day Full-time Part-time day Full-time Part-time (1983–84)
18 to 21 81 167 163 45 *210 *2
22 to 24 10 30 34 25 41 4
25 to 29 8 74 18 22 20 10
30 to 34 5 24 9 13 20 19
35 to 44 6 38 9 15 20 19
45 and over 4 86 3 7 20 19
TOTAL 18+ 114 419 236 127 291 35

* Includes a small number of students under the age of 18.