HC Deb 25 July 1986 vol 102 c526W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give, for England, the participation rate of three and four-year-olds and the percentage of 16-year-olds staying on at school in 1979 and 1986.

Mr. Dunn

The participation rate of three and four-year-olds in school and the percentage of 16-year-olds staying on at maintained schools in England in 1979 and 1986 are given below:

January 1979 January 1986*
Per cent. Per cent.
Participation rate of under 5's† 37.0 43.0
Percentage of 16-year-olds staying on at school† 24.4 26.9
* The figures given for January 1986 are provisional.
† Percentage of under 5's in nursery schools and nursery classes and infant classes in primary schools expressed as a percentage of the estimated 3 and 4-year-old population.
† Percentage of 16-year-olds remaining at school expressed as a percentage of the 15-year-olds one year earlier.