Education and training statistics for the UK
Reporting year 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
