§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (i) access and (ii) foundation course students are currently enrolled on courses which(a) are and (b) are not an integral part of a course of higher education. [20088]
§ Dr. HowellsThe available information on foundation courses is limited. A survey conducted by the Higher Education Quality Council indicated that there were approximately 8,000 students on foundation courses which were integral parts of higher education courses in England in 1995–96. Equivalent figures for foundation courses which are not parts of higher education courses are not available. For access courses, figures collected by the Further Education Funding Council show that there were 27,200 students on access to higher education courses in further education sector colleges and external institutions in England in November 1996. Access courses are classified as further education courses, although some are designed for entry to specific higher education courses.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students currently enrolled on access and foundation courses applied for the course before 23 July; and if he will make a statement. [20089]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of students went on to higher education (i) within one year and (ii) within three years of having completed a foundation or access course in the last year for which figures are available. [20090]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.