Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many course starts were recorded for Level 2 English qualifications since 2009.

Data on participation and achievements in higher level learning at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Levels 4 to 8 [1] is published in the department’s ‘Higher Level Learners in England’ statistics release. The statistics show the extent of participation in different educational routes that lead to qualifications at NQF levels 4 to 8, including apprenticeships alongside other more typical higher education aims. The series is available from the 2015/16 academic year and is available at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/higher-level-learners-in-england#dataBlock-86940f9b-a256-491a-b84f-0b9ad860cc3b-tables.

Data on participation in English at NQF Level 2 is available in different locations depending on the age of learners.

The number of GCSE and equivalent English entries by pupils at the end of key stage 4, which is typically academic age 15, is published in the annual key stage 4 performance statistical release, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-4-performance-revised.

Data on the number of entries into Level 2 English by 16 to 18 year olds is published in the annual A-level and other 16 to 18 results statistical release, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results.

Data on participation in Level 2 English in adult (19+) further education and skills is published in the annual Further Education and Skills statistical release, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/further-education-and-skills.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels