Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 22 October 2014 (HL2025), on the need to improve the productive use of classroom time following the raising of the school-leaving age in September 2013 and his comment that, "inevitably it will take time for such far-reaching changes to take effect", what evidence they yet have that such changes have begun to take effect.

Recent evidence suggests that the 16 to 19 funding and study programme reforms are now beginning to have a measurable impact on student provision.

Latest official figures[1] show the proportion of 16 year olds in education or apprenticeships at the end of 2013 was 93.8%. These figures reflect the first cohort impacted by raising the participation age and therefore suggest the policy is having a positive impact.

The number of students studying in full time education in academic year 2013 to 2014 has increased by 35% on the previous year.

In the same period, the number of students studying advanced (level 3) qualifications has increased by 11% and in year data suggests that 16 to 19 student enrolment in English and maths is better than expected with 89% of students without C grades in English and/or maths continuing their study in FE institutions.

Additionally, in September 2014 the government published a list of approved Applied General and Tech Level qualifications, improving the quality and relevance of vocational qualifications subjects on offer.

[1] Participation in education, training and employment, age 16 to 18 Statistical First Release https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-in-education-training-and-employment-age-16-to-18