OECD SIGNALS 'STRONG PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS' IN UK EDUCATION SYSTEM

OECD SIGNALS 'STRONG PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS' IN UK EDUCATION SYSTEM

London, 13 September/GNN/ --

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND SKILLS News Release (2005/0102) issued by the
Government News Network on 13 September 2005
Minister for Lifelong Learning Bill Rammell today welcomed the OECDs
confirmation that overall the UK education system is performing strongly
and has continued to improve in recent years.

The OECD say:

"This year's education indicators (also) point to strong performance and
progress in the UK's education system over recent years both in terms of
educational investments and outcomes."

Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education Bill Rammell
welcomed the report saying:

"As confirmed by the OECD today, the overall UK education picture is a
positive one. We are demonstrating strong performance, ongoing progress
and there is much in this report to be proud of.

"The figures relate to data provided in 2002 and earlier and we anticipate
that our position will improve even further as our latest education
performance features in future comparisons.

"Our ongoing investment in education - particularly at pre-primary level -
where we invest more than any other country - is particularly noted. We
will continue to invest heavily to ensure that every young person is given
the best possible start in life. Under current plans the proportion of GDP
spent on education is expected to rise from 5.4 per cent in 04/05, to 5.6 per
cent in 07/08. In 1996-1997 only 4.7 per cent of GDP was spent on education."

"The labour market returns to education in the UK are particularly strong
and conversely young people that leave school without good qualifications
have poorer job prospects and lower salaries to look forward to.

"One of the biggest and most immediate challenges facing us in the coming
years is, therefore, to encourage more teenagers to stay on in education. We
remain concerned that the skills levels of our school leavers is too low
and we are determined to take the necessary steps to ensure that we can
satisfy the rising and changing demand for skills. The OECD sends a clear
signal - we must improve vocational education if we are to keep apace with
our competitors.

"Tackling this stubborn issue is a priority for this government and we
are already working with employers to develop high quality, high status
vocational learning that will increase the numbers of trained individuals
entering the workplace.

"We must continue to drive forward with our reforms at all levels to ensure
that we maintain high standards for our learners and high standing within
the OECD community."

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report
'Education at a Glance - OECD Indicators 2005' is published on 13 September
2005. The report is an annual publication that compares international levels
of participation, attainment and spending among OECD member states.

Education at a Glance is based on data compiled in 2002 and earlier and
shows that:

Investment

* The UK stands out with consistent rises in its investment in education,
not just in absolute terms but also relative to national income.

This Government has consistently prioritised education in its public spending
commitments - since 1997 we have doubled investment per pupil from £2,500
to £5,000 a year. UK education spend for 2005-06 will be £68.2 billion.

Early Years

* The United Kingdom invests more money than any other country per child
in the early years. This is happening in spite of growing participation in
early years' education.

Investment and opportunity in early years education has the potential to
transform the life chances of young people. Our commitment to the expansion
of Sure Start children's centres and high quality early learning, will mean
that every child starts school at the age of four or five ready to learn.

Primary and Secondary

* Spending on education is above the OECD average;

* England's nine year olds show improved scores for both maths and science
between 1995 and 2003; and

* England is 5th out of 25 countries taking part in the TIMSS 2003 study
for ranking of primary school children in science and 10th out of 25 in maths.

Standards in English and mathematics in our primary schools have never been
higher. Compared to 1998, about 96,000 more eleven year olds in England are
achieving the expected level for their age in maths and around 84,000 more
are doing so in English. Over the last seven years, about half a million
more eleven year olds have achieved the expected level for their age in
each of maths and English than would have done if standards had remained
at the levels achieved in 1998.

The report also states that:

* The UK has, with 26 students per class, one of the largest average class
sizes at the primary level of education.

In 1998, the Government introduced a statutory infant class size limit for
English schools of no more than 30 pupils to a qualified teacher. Although
the policy targets infant classes - where research showed there would be
greatest benefits in having smaller teaching groups - it has also had a
beneficial effect on other year groups - and there are over 100,000 fewer
children aged 8 - 11 in classes of over 30 than there were in 2001. Since the
OECD figures were compiled there has been a downward trend in the average
class size along with improvements in the pupil to adult ratio over the
same period. Since 2002 we have recruited an additional 5,000 teachers to
English primary schools.

Further Education and Skills

Whilst we are making progress in raising the levels of attainment by young
people at the end of compulsory education, the OECD report makes clear that
participation post-16 in 2003 was low in comparison to other nations but
that we are making progress towards tackling this issue.

* The UK has low levels of participation in the immediate post-16 years,
though recent years have seen progress.

Although the number of school leavers continuing in education is relatively
low, the number returning to education in later years is a welcome trend.

* Participation at age 20 is slightly above the UK average and the UK does
significantly better in the 20-29 age group;

* Among 30-39 year olds the UK shows the highest participation rate of all
OECD countries.

The Government is taking a range of steps to boost participation levels
and meet the skills needs of the economy. We are introducing simpler, more
coherent, high quality employer-led vocational and occupational routes
to attract more young people into higher levels of training and skilled
employment. This includes:

* introducing new specialised diplomas in 14 sector areas, the first 4 of
which will be introduced by 2008

* widening the range of vocational options for the 14-16 age group, GCSEs
and A levels in vocational subjects (180,000 young people to benefit in 07-08)

* making work related learning and enterprise education statutory requirements
for all 14-16 year olds over next 2 years

* introduction of Young Apprenticeships enabling many 14-16 year olds to
embark on a programme

* reforming Apprenticeships with an increased focus on quality and linking
them to Foundation Degrees, providing a 'vocational ladder' of opportunity
from pre level 2 to Higher Education.

* For adults, an entitlement to a first free Level 2 qualification (current
pilots in the NE and SE) and piloting of subsidised training at level 3 in
the NW & West Midlands part of the National Employer Training Programme.

Higher Education

The OECD report reaffirms the value of a UK higher education. UK graduates
enjoy a better return on their investment than those from almost any other
OECD country and the low level of drop out illustrates that UK HE is more
efficient than other countries. This is why the UK maintains a prominent
position within the global education market and why we will continue to
pursue our goal of increasing participation in higher education towards 50%
of 18-30 year olds by 2010.

The report highlights that:

* In the UK, higher education pays off even more so than in most other
countries.

* At 83%, the UK is above the OECD average for the number of people
successfully completing their degrees;

* The UK has one of the highest entry rates for 'vocational' tertiary
education....improving from 6th to 5th place between 1998 and 2003.

NOTES TO EDITORS

This Press Notice applies to England.

Notes to Editors

1. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) report
'Education at a Glance 2005 - OECD Indicators 2005' is published by the OECD
on 13 September and is available from the OECD on +33 1 4524 9366

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Source: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND SKILLS

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