12 September 2006

Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell, today welcomed confirmation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that the UK’s education system is performing strongly and has continued to improve in recent years, with progress in tackling historically low post-16 staying-on rates.

OECD’s annual Education at a Glance - OECD Indicators 2006 finds that the UK:

• continues high levels of investment in education as a proportion of GDP; spending on educational institutions in the UK increased from 5.5% of GDP in 1995 to 6.1% in 2003, above the OECD average of 5.9%; the UK invests more money per child in the early years than any other country apart from the USA.
• is tackling historically low post-16 staying-on rates in education, with the UK ranking improving by four places compared to last year’s report.
• tops the 30 OECD nations in ‘educational expectancy’ - the number of years that people spend in education - with a child of five now expecting to spend an average of 20.7 years in education; educational expectancy has risen by 20% at primary and secondary levels and 25% at tertiary levels since 1995;
• is in the top five OECD nations for successful completion of degree courses, and has one of the highest entry rates for ‘vocational’ tertiary education, improving from 6th to 5th rank between 1998 and 2004; the UK continues to be a net exporter to the knowledge economy, remaining an attractive destination for international university students, with 11% of foreign students worldwide enrolled in UK institutions, ahead of countries such as Germany, France, Australia and Canada.

Andres Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division at OECD said:

“This year’s education indicators point to strong performance and progress in the UK’s education system, in terms of the expected years of education where the UK now tops the OECD countries, in terms of an above-average rise in investments in education, particularly in schools, and with regard to access and use of new technologies in schools.”

Mr Rammell also welcomed signs that Government action to tackle historically low staying-on rates was delivering increased participation in post-16 education. The UK ranking for post-compulsory participation in education has improved by four places compared to last year’s report, not least due to the introduction of a strong education element in Apprenticeships, and now has its highest ever numbers of 16-18 year olds in education and training – over 1.5 million at end 2005.

He said that continued action to drive up staying-on rates to 90% over the next decade, coupled with generous support packages for university students which exceed the OECD average, would comprehensively address OECD predictions that other countries might overtake the UK’s standing in participation in higher education.

Mr Rammell pointed out that entrants to higher education in the UK have increased by 25,000 or more than 10% since 1999, the UK remains in the top eight countries for graduation rates, and in the top five OECD nations for successful completion of degrees, with 78% of university students in the UK successfully completing their degrees compared to the OECD average of 70%.

He also expressed confidence that the new tuition fees regime - study first, pay when earning - alongside funding for students’ living costs and grants for poorer students, would positively encourage more young people to go on to university. The Government continues to drive towards its ambitious 50% participation target.

Mr Rammell said:

“The UK education system is among the finest in the world, and the picture is one of strength and continuing improvement. Record levels of investment, radical reform and the hard of work of professionals across the education sector is leading to record attainment at all stages of education.

“OECD figures relate to data provided in 2004 and earlier and we anticipate that our position will improve even further as our latest education performance features in future comparisons.

“We are delivering on one of the biggest challenges facing us in the coming years, tackling the historic neglect which has led to poor staying-on rates. The OECD provides welcome confirmation that we are beginning to turn the tide, with the UK now having over 1.5 million 16-18 year olds in education and training, the highest number ever.

“Our focus on the basics at primary and secondary level, improvements to curriculum choice through our 14-19 reforms, and generous support packages for university students will deliver many more, providing the skilled workforces that employers want and increasing the numbers of talented young people going on to university.”

Education at a Glance - OECD Indicators 2006 is an annual publication that compares international levels of participation, attainment and spending among OECD member states. It is important to note that much of it is based on data compiled in 2003 or earlier.