More young people achieving key qualification level -

Level 2 attainment at 19 rises by 5.1 percentage points

A large increase in the number and proportion of young people achieving level 2 qualifications - five GCSEs grades A*-C or the vocational equivalent - has been announced today.

In 2004, 66.3 per cent of 19 year olds had reached Level 2, but official statistics released today show that 71.4 per cent achieved this level last year - surpassing the target of 69.3 per cent.i

Level 2 provides a crucial platform of skills for employability. The increase means that the equivalent of over 40,000 more 19 year olds have achieved better prospects for good careers, compared to those who turned 19 in 2004ii.

Congratulating young people, teachers and lecturers on their success, Minister for 14-19 Learning, Jim Knight said:

"This is fantastic news for the thousands of young people who have knuckled down and committed to hard work to gain these qualifications. It not only means that they can look forward to a brighter future, but that employers will benefit through a more highly skilled workforce - making the UK more competitive and productive.

"These results are crucial both helping young people prepare for life and meeting the country's raised aspirations for skills outlined in the Leitch report. We are building on these improvements in developing a new system of 14-19 education.

"The new Diplomas, along with provision of the right guidance and support, sufficient appropriate provision offered to all young people, and a better taught, more engaging curriculum will ensure young people will have the skills and qualifications they need to succeed at work and in their future learning."

The results mean that the Department for Education and Skills and Learning and Skills Council have met their targets to increase the number of 19 year olds achieving level 2 by 2006. An increasing proportion of 19 year olds has also qualified to Level 3 - equivalent to 2 A levels.

By achieving the key level 2 qualifications, young people can look forward to:

• A higher starting salary - of £1,700 more a year, compared to those without five good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent.
  An 88 per cent higher chance of skilled employment.
  A far higher likelihood to be working for an employer who will invest time and money in their development.

Mel Hunt, National Director of Learning at the Learning and Skills Council, said:

"Meeting this target is a real achievement for young people and everyone involved in the learning sector. It should be welcomed by all those who care about young people's futures. The lecturers and teachers in further education as well as employers who offer Apprenticeships and other work-based learning have done a fantastic job in ensuring that young people get the learning and training they need to achieve these qualifications.

"We also know that education professionals, along with parents and even the media have played a crucial role in helping us raise awareness of the need for young people to get level 2 qualifications in order to improve their life chances.

"These figures also suggest that the traditional financial barrier to participation after 16, experienced by young people in the past, is now being tackled, thanks in part to schemes such as Education Maintenance Allowance."

Jim Knight concluded:

"These results are a significant milestone but the numbers of young people needing to gain level 2 qualifications needs to go on increasing. As the Leitch Review highlighted, we will need around 90 per cent of people skilled to this level by 2020.

"We are committed to meeting the needs of both young people and the economy and have set ourselves an aspiration that 85% of 19 year olds should reach level 2 by 2013. We will build on the excellent progress made to date to increase performance further to meet our aspirations and implement our ambitious proposals for 14-19 education."

The new data also reveals that the number of 19 year olds achieving level 3 qualifications - such as A-Levels or their vocational equivalents - has risen by 4.7 percentage points since 2004 to 46.8 per cent in 2006, also in line with government targets.

Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

View our editorial policy click here.