Higher Education (Hansard, 12 June 1990)

§ Mr. Ian Bruce
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications there have been for undergraduate degree courses beginning in September 1990 and September 1991; and how many there were in the same period last year for degree courses beginning September 1989 and September 1990.

§ 17. Mr. Hague
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many young people have applied for places on undergraduate degree courses at higher education institutions in the United Kingdom beginning in September 1990 and September 1991.

Mr. Jackson
By March 1990, the Universities Central Council on Admissions had received 851,693 applications from United Kingdom domiciled students for admission to United Kingdom universities at undergraduate level in autumn 1990. Applications for 1989 entry on 31 March 1989 numbered 774,469. By the same dates, the Polytechnics Central Admissions System had received 539,622 applications for 1990 admission to undergraduate degree courses at polytechnics and colleges in England and Wales compared with 480,568 for 1989 entry. Information on 1991 applications is not yet available.

§ 16. Mr. Doran
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of quality assurance in higher education.

Mr. Jackson
Quality assurance is of increasing importance as higher education develops. The HE institutions, the validating bodies, and both the higher education funding councils are very conscious of their responsibilities in this regard. In addition, my right hon. Friend is seeking comments on the recommendations in the recently published review of the Council for National Academic Awards.

§ 31. Mr. Martlew
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase the participation of 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education.

§ Mr. Mowlam
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase the participation of 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education.

Mr. Jackson
The Government have achieved a very substantial increase in full-time participation in post-compulsory education. For 16-year-olds, it has increased by 25 per cent., from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1988–89. And for 16 to 17-year-olds taken together, it has increased from 34 per cent. to 42 per cent. These figures do not include YTS trainees who attend 169W college full-time. Our examination reforms and the Education Reform Act will raise standards in schools, giving more young people the qualifications and motivation to stay on.

§ 74. Mr. Jim Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for qualifications for post-16-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
My right hon. Friend is determined to ensure that A-level and AS courses and vocational courses together provide young people beyond 16 with a coherent spectrum of opportunities and a chance to develop their potential. He has asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to advise him by July on the practicability of building core skills into A and AS syllabuses and on the credit transfer possibilities between A/AS and vocational qualifications. Once he has this advice he will be able to consider what further steps are needed in improving the nature and structure of the qualifications available.

§ Mr. Paice
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much he estimates it costs to provide education for 16 to 18-year-olds at current prices; and how many individuals aged between 16 and 18 years are in(a) full-time and (b) part-time education.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The education component of the 1990–91 grant settlement allows for education authorities in England to spend over £1,600 million on providing for 16 to 18-year-olds in secondary schools and further education colleges. This is net of further education tuition fees, and allows for the higher costs of 16 to 18-year-olds relative to other pupils in the secondary sector. The projected student numbers for the academic year 1990–91 consistent with that total assume 543,000 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time secondary or further education, and 295,000 in part-time further education.