Level 2 and 3 Attainment by Young People in England measured using Matched Administrative Data: Attainment by Age 19 in 2004

This is a new publication as pre-announced in SFR48/2004 "Advanced Warning of a New Publication on Level 2 and 3 Attainment by Young People Measured Using Matched Administrative Data" in December 2004. It will include a 2004 baseline for the 2006 level 2 at 19 PSA target based on matched administrative data, following recommendations from the National Statistics Quality Review into the Measurement of Attainment of Young People published on 10 September 2004. The administrative data replace the LFS data as the designated source for setting a 2004 baseline for the 2006 Level 2 by 3% points between 2004 and 2006, and a further 2% points between 2006 and 2008, and increasing the proportion of young people who achieve level 3.

This SFR is closely linked to three other SFRs published today.

Figures contained in this SFR set the baseline for the 2004-2006 level 2 at 19 PSA target, produced using a new measurement method. This new method replaces the Labour Force Survey (LFS) used to measure the 2002-2004 target. The LFS outturn to the 2002-2004 target is reported in SFR06/2005 "The Level of Highest Qualification Held by Young People and Adults: England 2004".

The adminstrative measure reported in this SFR used matched data from several sources, one of which is the National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ) which collects data on vocational awards from awarding bodies. NISVQ analyses are reported in SFR07/2005 "Vocational Qualifications in the UK: 2003/04". Of particular relevance are awards by learners of academic age 18 (some of which will be counted in the 2004 baseline) and academic age 16 (which give an early indication of progress towards the 2006 target).

The Youth Cohort Study of activities and experience of 16 year olds in 2004 provides and early indication of progress towards the 2006 target, when these learners will be 19. Findings are presented in SFR04/2005 "Youth Cohort Study: The Activities and Experiences of 16 Year Olds: England and Wales 2004".

Contact details

Julian Austin
Telephone: 0114 274 2440
Email: Julian.Austin@education.gsi.gov.uk