HC Deb 03 July 2003 vol 408 cc444-6W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what percentage of provision of vocational education and training for young people was provided by colleges in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [122282]

(2) how many 16 to 19-year olds studied for vocational qualifications in (a) further education, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other schools in the last year for which figures are available. [122283]

Alan Johnson

The numbers and percentages of 16 to 18-year olds participating in vocational education and training, for end 2001 (provisional figures; as at end of calendar year), are set out in the table. The figures include people studying NVQs, VCE A levels, GNVQs and equivalents.

Participation in Vocational Education and Training by 16–18 year olds in England, end 2001
Numbers Percentage of population
Full-time and part-time education 534,500 28.8
All Schools 72,100 3.9
Sixth Form Colleges1 32,200 1.7
FE Colleges 1 430,100 23.2
Work-based Learning (WBL) 152,400 8.2
Total2 650,500 35.0
1 Includes some students studying at Higher Education Institutions.
2 Total of full- and part-time education and WBL (less overlap between WBL and full- and part-time education).

Source:

DfES Statistical First Release 16/2002

These figures do not include students in Employer Funded Education and Training (EFT) and Other Education and Training (OET) that are non-college based, for whom no academic/vocational split available.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of vocational qualifications were awarded via colleges in the last year for which figures are available. [122286]

Alan Johnson

The table below shows the numbers and proportions of vocational awards1 by Centre Type during the 2001/02 academic year. The data are taken from the National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ)2. Awards coverage is for England only.

1 Vocational Awards include NVQs/SVQs, other VQs and VRQs.

2 NISVQ has full coverage of NVQs awarded plus VRQs from three of the largest awarding bodies and other VQs from seven of the largest awarding bodies.

Number and proportion of awards by Centre Type
Centre Type Numbers Percentages
School 43,372 6
FE college/tertiary college3 427,205 59
Sixth form college 18,953 3
Other4 236,809 33
Total 726,339
3 Includes Adult Education data.
4 Institutes classified as 'other' include: University or other Higher Education centre, Private Training provider, Local government/Central Government/NHS, Employer, HM Prison/Youth Offenders Institution and Armed Forces.

Source:

NISVQ

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vocational training places will be made available in Essex for young people and unemployed adults in each vocational craft. [122796]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Responsibility for the provision of vocational training for young people and for adult and community learning is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Responsibility for the provision of opportunities for unemployed adults lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The table provided shows the number and type of training opportunities Jobcentre Plus' Essex District has contracted for between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004. Decisions about the scale and nature of opportunities have been taken taking into account the requirements of employers, jobseekers and the labour market.

Work-based learning for adult training places Total
Self Employment 50
Basic Employment Training 142
Short Job Focused Training—Transport 60
Short Job Focused Training—Fork lift 232
Short Job Focused Training—Security 30
Short Job Focused Training—IT 20
Short Job Focused Training—Business Admin 71
Short Job Focused Training—Construction 5
Short Job Focused Training—Health Care and Public Services 6
Short Job Focused Training—Retail 30
Longer Occupational Training—Construction 13 wks 101
Longer Occupational Training—Engineering 6
Longer Occupational Training—Business Admin 153
Longer Occupational Training—Hospitality 16
Longer Occupational Training—IT 95
Longer Occupational Training—USING IT 13 wks 59
Longer Occupational Training—Business Admin 26 wks 13
Longer Occupational Training—Health Care and Public Services 23
Longer Occupational Training—Retail 55
Longer Occupational Training—LGV Class C licences 12
Longer Occupational Training—Driving Instructor Training 18
Total 1,197

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the progress made on the training pilots for vocational craft skills. [122797]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Employer Training Pilots were launched in six Learning and Skills Council (LSC) areas in September 2002. The pilots test the effects of offering employers a package of financial incentives to encourage them to allow their employees time off to train towards basic skills and level 2 qualifications. The training is free and delivered in a way that best suits the employer's business. Initial results suggested that the pilots were successfully engaging firms and individuals with little prior involvement in training, and they have therefore been extended until August 2004 and expanded to cover an additional six LSC areas.

The new pilots, which will operate from summer 2003, will be located in Berkshire, East London, Kent, Leicester, Shropshire and South Yorkshire.

The impact of the pilots is being evaluated on an ongoing basis and although the final evaluation will not be available until early 2005, early indications are positive. Employers like the free training provision, delivered flexibly in the workplace, and the services of the independent broker to help them identify and source the most suitable training.

Figures provided by the LSC show that as at 31 May 2003, 2,318 employers and 11,665 employees had signed up to the pilots. Over 90 per cent. of employers signing up to the pilots are SMEs and 72 per cent. have less than 50 employees. Learner drop-out rates are also extremely low.

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of people completing a vocational training course have obtained employment within three months in the last three years. [122798]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Information is only available for those leaving Government supported work based learning for young people (WBLYP), and for those in a job six (not three) months after leaving learning. The percentages of learners on Government supported work based learning for young people (WBLYP) who were in a job six months after leaving are shown in the following table. The information in the table relates to all leavers and is taken from a postal survey sent to each learner six months after leaving the programme. The latest year for which figures are available is 2000–01.

Percentages of survey respondents who were in a job six months

after leaving a period of government supported training by

financial year and programme

Financial year of leaving Advanced modern apprenticeships Foundation modern apprenticeships Other training Work-based learning for young people
1998–99 82 n/a 64 69
1999–2000 84 68 62 71
2000–01 86 69 61 72

Source:

DfES Statistical First Release 14/2002

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