Participation by characteristics ages 16-21 (educated in England state-sector at 15)
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Number and proportion of the state funded population at age 15 participating in education or apprenticeships at 16-21 by age, characteristics, provider type and highest qualification aim.
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Data set details
- Theme
- Destination of pupils and students
- Publication
- Participation in education, training and employment age 16 to 21
- Release
- Calendar year 2025
- Release type
- Number of rows
- 664,893
- Geographic levels
- National
- Indicators
- Percent of population
- Number
- Population
- Filters
- Participation measure
- Academic age
- Characteristic
- Time period
- 2015 to 2025
Data set preview
| time_period | time_identifier | geographic_level | country_code | country_name | breakdown_topic | breakdown | age | participation_measure | provider_type | qualification_level | qualification_sublevel | population | number | percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Calendar year | National | E92000001 | England | Disadvantaged status | Disadvantaged | 16 | Education | All state-funded | Level 3 | A/AS levels | 152324 | 29922 | 19.644 |
| 2015 | Calendar year | National | E92000001 | England | Disadvantaged status | Disadvantaged | 16 | Education | All state-funded | Level 1 and below | Entry Level | 152324 | 68 | 0.045 |
| 2015 | Calendar year | National | E92000001 | England | Disadvantaged status | Disadvantaged | 16 | Education | All state-funded | Level 2 | GCSE | 152324 | 3306 | 2.17 |
| 2015 | Calendar year | National | E92000001 | England | Disadvantaged status | Disadvantaged | 16 | Education | All state-funded | Level 1 and below | Level 1 | 152324 | 121 | 0.079 |
| 2015 | Calendar year | National | E92000001 | England | Disadvantaged status | Disadvantaged | 16 | Education | All state-funded | Level 2 | Other level 2: Not Technical Certificate | 152324 | 554 | 0.364 |
Variables in this data set
| Variable name | Variable description |
|---|---|
| age | Academic age - Age as at 31st August (start of the academic year) |
| breakdown | Characteristic |
| number | Number |
| participation_measure | Participation measure |
| percent | Percent of population |
Footnotes
- HE participation estimates from administrative data (HESA) are not yet available for 2025. No overall participation estimates are shown for the latest year for age 18+ as proportions would be misleading due to this missing HE data.
- Participation gaps refer to the difference in between one characteristic group and another. 1) Special Educational Need (SEN) gap: between those with and without SEN, with non-SEN individuals typically having higher participation; 2) Free School Meal (FSM) gap: between those eligible and not eligible for FSM, with those not eligible for FSM typically having higher participation; 3) Disadvantage gap: between those deemed disadvantaged (see methodology) and those not disadvantaged, with those not disadvantaged typically having higher participation; 4) Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) gap: between the 25% most deprived and the 25% least deprived, with the 25% least deprived typically having higher participation; 5) Gap between males and females, with females typically having higher participation; 6) Level 2 by age 15 gap: between those who achieved level 2 by age 15 and those who hadn't, with those achieving typically having higher participation; 7) Level 2 in English and maths by age 15 gap: between those who achieved level 2 in English language and maths by age 15 and those who hadn't, with those achieving typically having higher participation.
- Specific Learning Difficulties: Conditions that affect specific aspects of learning, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia. Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD): Broad challenges with basic literacy, numeracy, and understanding concepts. Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) categorises difficulties that hinder a child's well-being, relationships, and ability to engage in learning. Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN): Challenges in communicating effectively with others or processing language. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Conditions that affect how a child interacts socially, communicates, and perceives the world.
- Specialist colleges in this category are those specialising in fields such as agriculture, art and technology. This grouping does not mean colleges focusing on learners with special educational needs.
- The apprenticeship framework is broken down into specific levels: Intermediate (Level 2): equivalent to: 5 GCSE passes (Grades 9–4 or A*–C), Advanced (Level 3): equivalent to: 2 A Level passes, or a Level 3 Diploma, Higher (Levels 4 and 5): equivalent to: Foundation degree, Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND), Degree (Levels 6 and 7): equivalent to: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
- 'Other' provider types are primarily private providers, alongside a limited number of smaller organisations such as institutions funded by other government departments.
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Contact us
If you have a specific enquiry about Participation by characteristics ages 16-21 (educated in England state-sector at 15) statistics and data:
Post-16 statistics team
Email: post16.statistics@education.gov.ukContact name: Sally Marshall