Level 3 Qualification

HC Deb 02 July 2003 vol 408 cc288-9W

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many additional students he estimates will gain a Level 3 qualification in each of the years 2003–04 to 2009–10. [120969]

Alan Johnson

The Department does not produce projections of the number of people in the total population holding level 3 qualifications.

As reported in "The Level of Highest Qualification Held by Young People and Adults: England 2002", the proportions attaining level 3 in Autumn 2002 were: 19-year-olds¹ qualified to at least level 3—51.6 per cent, 21-year-olds² qualified to at least level 3—53.8 per cent, Economically active adults³ qualified to at least level 3—48.8 per cent.

The Department anticipates growth in level 3 attainment by 2010, supporting growth in participation in Higher Education.

¹The highest level of attainment for the 19–21 year old group is used as a proxy for achievement at age 19.

² The highest level of attainment for the 21–23 year old group is used as a proxy for achievement at age 21.

³ Economically active adults are defined here as men aged 18–64 and women aged 18–59 in employment or ILO unemployed.