Reporting year 2020

Education and training statistics for the UK

Data guidance

Published 26 November 2020

Description

This document describes the data included in the “Education and training statistics for the UK - 2020” National Statistics releases underlying data files.

The methodology document for this release should be referenced alongside this release. It provides information and further links for information on data sources, their coverage and quality and how the data is produced.

Coverage

This release compiles information on education systems across the United Kingdom. There is data on:

• State-funded and independent school numbers - by school type
• Pupil numbers in state-funded and independent schools - by age, gender and school type
• Teacher numbers in state-funded and independent schools - by gender and school type
• Pupil-teacher ratios in state-funded schools - by school type
• Attendance in education settings between 23rd March and 26th June 2020
• Higher and further education institutions numbers
• Higher and further education staff numbers - by gender
• Higher education student numbers - by gender, subject grouping, level of education, mode of study and domicile
• Further education student numbers - by gender, age and mode of study
• The percentage of young adults (aged 16-24) not in education or employment
• Headline qualification measures for students leaving secondary education, typically at ages 16-18 - by gender
• Qualification measures by subject - by gender
• Qualification levels of the adult population (aged 19-64) - by gender and age group
• Education expenditure

File formats and conventions

Rounding

Most figures in this publication are provided unrounded.

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘c’ suppressed (either value under 5 or data suppressed to prevent the identification of values under 5)

‘z’ not applicable

‘:’ not available

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Attendance in education settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

• Filename: uk_school_attendance_23032020_to_26062020.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020 Week 13 to 2020 Week 26
• Content:

  This file contains information on the attendance in education settings during the coronavirus outbreak, between 23rd March and 26th June 2020.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
date	Date
pt_children_attending	Percentage of children attending education settings during the COVID-19 outbreak between March and June 2020
pt_settings_open	Percentage of education settings that were open during the COVID-19 outbreak between March and June 2020

Footnotes

1. The data for each part of the UK is taken directly from their respective published information, and the methodologies and coverage for each will differ significantly. Therefore, direct comparisons between numbers should not be made.

Expenditure

• Filename: uk_expenditure.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015-16 to 2019-20
• Content:

  This file contains information on government expenditure in education in the UK

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
education_function	Education function
expenditure_level	Expenditure level
expenditure_type	Expenditure type
t_expenditure	Total expenditure (millions)

Further education students

• Filename: uk_post_compulsory_education_fe_students.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of further education students in the UK, by gender, age and mode of study.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age	Age
gender	Gender
mode_of_study	Mode of study
t_students	Number of FE students

Higher and further education institutions

• Filename: uk_post_compulsory_education_institutions.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of higher and further education institutions in the UK.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
provider_type	Provider type
t_institutions	Number of institutions

Higher and further education staff

• Filename: uk_post_compulsory_education_staff.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of staff in higher and further education institutions.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
gender	Gender
provider_type	Provider type
t_fte_staff	Full-time equivalent staff

Higher education students

• Filename: uk_post_compulsory_education_he_students.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2016/17 to 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of higher education students, broken down by gender, level of education, mode of study, subject group and domicile.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
domicile	Domicile
gender	Gender
level	Level of education
mode_of_study	Mode of study
subject	Subject group
t_students	Number of HE students

Highest qualification among 19-64 year olds

• Filename: uk_highest_qualifications.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019
• Content:

  This file contains information on the highest qualification of adults (aged 19-64) in the United Kingdom.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age	Age
gender	Gender
pt_hiqual_nqf2	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as NQF level 2 or above
pt_hiqual_nqf3	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as NQF level 3 or above
pt_hiqual_nqf4	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as NQF level 4 or above
pt_hiqual_scqf5	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as SCQF level 5 or above
pt_hiqual_scqf6	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as SCQF level 6 or above
pt_hiqual_scqf7	Percentage of population with their highest qualification as SCQF level 7 or above
t_age_1964	Total 19-64 year olds in the population (thousands)

NEET

• Filename: uk_neet.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001 to 2020
• Content:

  This file contains information in the number and percentage of young adults (aged 16-24) who are not in education or employment

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age	Age
gender	Gender
pt_neet	People who were NEET as a percentage of people in relevant population group
quarter	Quarter
t_economically_inactive	Total economically inactive
t_neet	Total NEET
t_population	Total people in relevant population group
t_unemployed	Total unemployed

Pupil numbers

• Filename: uk_pupils.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2019/20
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of pupils in the United Kingdom, broken down by age, gender and school type.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age	Age
gender	Gender
phase	School type
t_pupils	Number of pupils

Footnotes

1. In Scotland, figures include all providers of funded Early Learning and childcare, not only nurseries.
2. In England, special schools include pupil referral units.
3. Primary and secondary figures include middle schools as deemed. Secondary schools include all-through schools.

Pupil teacher ratios

• Filename: uk_pupil_teacher_ratios.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2019/20
• Content:

  This file contains information in the pupil teacher ratios in schools in the United Kingdom.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
phase	School type
pupil_teacher_ratio	Pupil-teacher ratio

Footnotes

1. In England, special schools include pupil referral units.
2. In England, the primary pupil-teacher ratio includes LA maintained nurseries.
3. Primary and secondary figures include middle schools as deemed. Secondary schools include all-through schools.

Qualifications - headline measures

• Filename: uk_qualifications_headline_measures.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the headline qualification measures used by each country in the United Kingdom for students leaving education (typically between ages 16-18).

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
avg_att8	Average Attainment 8 score of all pupils
avg_ebaccaps	Average EBacc APS score per pupil
avg_p8score	Average Progress 8 score of all pupils
avg_widerps	Average wider points score for pupils aged 17
capped9_ps	Capped 9 point score
gender	Gender
level	Level of education
literacy_ps	Literacy point score
numeracy_ps	Numeracy point score
p8score_CI_low	Progress 8 lower 95% confidence interval
p8score_CI_upp	Progress 8 upper 95% confidence interval
pt_1plus_alevel_astare	Percentage achieving 1 or more A-levels at grades A*-E
pt_2alevel	Percentage of pupils achieving at least 2 A levels
pt_2alevels_astare	Percentage of pupils entering at least 2 A levels and achieving 2 A*-E grades at A level
pt_2l3	Percentage of pupils achieving at least 2 substantial level 3 qualifications
pt_2plus_alevels_astarc	Percentage achieving 2 or more A-levels at grades A*-C
pt_2plus_alevels_astare	Percentage achieving 2 or more A-levels at grades A*-E
pt_3alevel_aab	Percentage of students achieving grades AAB or better at A level
pt_3alevel_astara	Percentage of students achieving 3 A*-A grades or better at A level
pt_3alevels_astara	Percentage of pupils entering at least 2 A levels and achieving 3 A*-A grades at A level
pt_3alevels_astarc	Percentage of pupils entering at least 2 A levels and achieving 3 A*-C grades at A level
pt_3plus_alevels_astarc	Percentage achieving 3 or more A-levels at grades A*-C
pt_3plus_alevels_astare	Percentage achieving 3 or more A-levels at grades A*-E
pt_5gcse_astara	Percentage of pupils in year 11 who achieved 5 A*-A GCSEs or equivalent
pt_5gcse_astarc	Percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C
pt_5gcse_astarc_em	Percentage achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (including English and Maths)
pt_5gcse_astarg	Percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-G
pt_5gcse_astarg_em	Percentage achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-G (including English and Maths)
pt_7gcse_astarc	Percentage of pupils achieving 7 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C
pt_7gcse_astarc_em	Percentage achieving 7 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (including English and Maths)
pt_ebacc_94	Percentage of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate (grades 4 or above in English and maths, A*-C in unreformed subjects)
pt_ebacc_95	Percentage of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate (grades 5 or above in English and maths, A*-C in unreformed subjects)
pt_ebacc_e_ptq_ee	Percentage of pupils entering the English Baccalaureate
pt_entbasics	Percentage of pupils entering English and mathematics GCSEs
pt_l2basics_94	Percentage of pupils achieving grades 4 or above in English and mathematics GCSEs
pt_l2basics_95	Percentage of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in English and mathematics GCSEs
pt_level1	Percentage of pupils in year 11 who achieved the Level 1 threshold (5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade A*-G)
pt_level2_inclusive	Percentage of pupils in year 11 who achieved the Level 2 inclusive threshold (5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade A*-C including English/Welsh and Maths)
pt_scqf4	Percentage of school leavers attaining 1 or more qualifications at SCQF level 4 or better
pt_scqf5	Percentage of school leavers attaining 1 or more qualifications at SCQF level 5 or better
pt_scqf6	Percentage of school leavers attaining 1 or more qualifications at SCQF level 6 or better
pt_skillscc_adv	Percentage of pupils who achieved the skills challenge certificate at advanced level
pt_wb_adv	Percentage of pupils who achieved the welsh baccalaureate at advanced level
science_ps	Science point score
skillscc_ps	Skills challenge certificate point score
t_2alevels_e	Total pupils aged 17 who entered a volume of qualifications equivalent to 2 A levels
t_inp8calc	Total number of pupils included in Progress 8 measure
t_leavers	Total number of school leavers
t_pupils	Total number of pupils at the end of key stage 4
t_pupils_1alevel	Total number of pupils entered for one or more A level or applied A level
t_pupils_aged17	Total number of pupils aged 17
t_pupils_alevel	Total number of A level pupils
t_pupils_l3	Total number of level 3 pupils
t_pupils_year11	Total number of pupils in year 11
t_pupils_year12	Total number of year 12 pupils eligible for GCSE (including equivalent) examinations
t_pupils_year14	Total number of year 14 pupils eligible for A-level (or equivalent) examinations

Footnotes

1. Progress 8 measures are only calculated for state-funded schools.

Qualifications by subject

• Filename: uk_qualifications_subjects.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018/19
• Content:

  This file contains information on the numbers and percentages of pupils receiving qualifications in the United Kingdom, by subject.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
gender	Gender
level	Level of education
pt_achieving_9_5	Percentage of entries achieving 9-5
pt_achieving_a	Percentage of entries achieving A
pt_achieving_astar	Percentage of entries achieving A*
pt_achieving_astarc	Percentage of entries achieving A*-C
pt_achieving_astarc/9_4	Percentage of entries achieving A*-C/9-4
pt_achieving_astare	Percentage of entries achieving A*-E
pt_achieving_astarg	Percentage of entries achieving A*-G
pt_achieving_astarg/9_1	Percentage of entries achieving A*-G/9-1
pt_achieving_b	Percentage of entries achieving B
pt_achieving_c	Percentage of entries achieving C
pt_achieving_d	Percentage of entries achieving D
pt_achieving_de	Percentage achieving D-E
pt_achieving_e	Percentage of entries achieving E
pt_achieving_f	Percentage of entries achieving F
pt_achieving_g	Percentage of entries achieving G
pt_all_entries	Percentage of all entries
pt_leavers_scqf3above	Percentage of all leavers with attainment at SCQF level 3 or better
pt_leavers_scqf4above	Percentage of all leavers with attainment at SCQF level 4 or better
pt_leavers_scqf5above	Percentage of all leavers with attainment at SCQF level 5 or better
pt_leavers_scqf6above	Percentage of all leavers with attainment at SCQF level 6 or better
pt_leavers_scqf7	Percentage of all leavers with attainment at SCQF level 7
pt_other	Percentage achieving a different grade
pt_ungraded	Percentage of entries ungraded
subject	Subject
t_achieving_9_5	Total number achieving 9-5
t_achieving_astarc/9_4	Total number achieving A*-C/9-4
t_achieving_astarg/9_1	Total number achieving A*-G/9-1
t_entries	Total number of entries
t_leavers	Total number of school leavers
t_leavers_scqf3_7	Number of leavers with attainment at SCQF Level 3-7

School numbers

• Filename: uk_schools.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2019/20
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of schools in the United Kingdom, broken down by school type.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
phase	School type
t_schools	Number of schools

Footnotes

1. In Scotland, figures include all providers of funded Early Learning and childcare, not only nurseries.
2. In England, special schools include pupil referral units.
3. In Northern Ireland, total figures include hospital schools.
4. Primary and secondary figures include middle schools as deemed. Secondary schools include all-through schools.

Teacher numbers

• Filename: uk_teachers.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2019/20
• Content:

  This file contains information on the number of teachers in the United Kingdom, broken down by gender and school type.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
gender	Gender
phase	School type
t_fte_teachers	Full-time equivalent number of teachers

Footnotes

1. In Scotland, figures include all providers of funded Early Learning and childcare, not only nurseries.
2. In England, special schools include pupil referral units.
3. In England and Scotland, total teachers includes centrally employed teachers.
4. Primary and secondary figures include middle schools as deemed. Secondary schools include all-through schools.