National Comparators for Further Education and Work-based Learning, 2005/06

This publication presents national comparators for further education and work-based learning for 2005/06, derived from the Lifelong Learning Wales Record (LLWR).

The comparators are based on interim measures which are outlined below.  From 2007/08 onwards, DCELLS' aim is to introduce a common measure for learner attainment which can be applied across the post-16 education.  The national comparators are used:

(i) by DCELLS, to inform judgements on learner outcomes as part of provider performance review;
(ii) by Estyn, in making judgements on Key Question 1 of the Common Inspection Framework, How well do learners achieve?; and
(iii) by learning providers, to evaluate their own performance as part of self-assessment, and to set targets for improvement.

Further Education

The comparators comprise learning activity completion rates, detailed by age group, area of learning, and learning aim; and destination following learning programme, detailed by area of learning.

• Overall, learning activity completion rates remained consistent over the last three years for which statistics are available, at 84% in 2005/06 compared to 83% in 2004/05 and 84% in 2003/04.
• Within this, performance for individual learning areas varied considerably, from 71% in Science and Mathematics, to 92% in Education and Training.

Work-based Learning

The comparators comprise learning outcomes per 100 leavers, including NVQs, key skills, other qualifications, progressions from Skillbuild learning, and framework attainments.

• NVQ attainment rates varied from 32 per 100 leavers on Skillbuild Plus programmes, to 67 per 100 leavers on Modern Apprenticeships.
• Key skills attainment rates on work-based learning programmes were between 45 and 179 per 100 leavers.
• In Skillbuild, 34 leavers out of every 100 progressed to further learning, an increase from 32 last year.
• Attainment of qualification frameworks in Modern Apprenticeship (MA) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA) programmes was, at 31 and 44 per 100 leavers respectively, still below the Welsh Assembly Government target of 50%, but an improvement on last year when framework attainments were at 25 and 33 per 100 leavers.
• Framework outcomes varied considerably between learning areas, with attainment rates being highest in MA Transportation and FMA Hair and Beauty, and lowest in MA Management & Professional and both MA and FMA Health Care & Public Services.

Contact:
Tel: 029 2092 6025
E-mail: analysis@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next Update:
September 2008 (provisional - to be confirmed on the Due Out Soon page)