Census 2021, highest level of qualification by age band

An issue with the data source for the simple report 'Topic summary TS067- Highest level of qualification' is that the population base chosen is 16 and over. This is in line with other Census topics that use the working population as their base. At 16 years of age most, but not all, school students will have been entered for GCSE examinations that relate to Level 1. Many students take A level examinations (Level 3) in order to qualify for entry into universities and colleges where they will gain Level 4 qualifications by which time they will likely be aged 21 or over. Some students choose to apply for university courses at older ages and often people opt to return to studying for such reasons as redundancy, career change or changes in family circumstances. These tables show the 'highest levels of qualifications' so although 'No qualifications' always means just that, someone having a level 4 qualification will almost always have level 3, level 2 and level 1 qualifications as well.

Key points

• In the 'aged 16 to 20 band' high rates of students with up to level 3 qualifications were found in Lancaster and West Lancashire where there are major universities. Rates for 'no qualifications' did not vary much, but were higher in Blackpool. A very high rate of 45% for level 1 was found in Ribble Valley
• In the 'aged 21 to 24 band' the rates for 'no qualifications' started creeping up in Burnley and Pendle. The pattern for level 1 was similar
• In the 'aged 25 to 29 band' Pendle had a rate of 14.1% for no qualifications' nearly twice the Lancashire-12 rate. Rossendale had highest rate for level 3 and Ribble Valley was highest for Level 4 in Lancashire with 51.5%
• The rates for 'no qualifications' were much higher in the oldest age group of 30 years and over. Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool had rates of around 27%, about twice that in Ribble Valley. Rates for levels one to three did not vary much between the featured areas, but level 4 had a wider range from 22.2% in Blackpool to 41.4% in Ribble Valley
• In the 16 year and over population Lancaster had a high rate for level 3 at 22.6% and was ranked 4^th highest in England and Wales while West Lancashire was ranked 14^th. When the population base is changed to 30 years and over these districts fall back down the rankings, but with 17.3% South Ribble rises to the 7^th position and Rossendale to 20^th

The interactive report shows that the highest rates for people with no qualifications belong in the 30 years and over band. In table 2, as this age band is always included, the rates and rankings do not vary considerably.

Table 1. Counts and rates

Table 1 has a filter that lets you choose a single age band or combinations of the 4 bands. With just the 16 to 20 year age band selected the rates for no qualifications were mostly in the upper teens % except in Blackpool which was slightly higher at 20.9%, and in Lancaster and West Lancashire where rates were much lower (under 10%) due to the greater numbers of University students who belong in this age bracket. For these ages Level 2 qualification rates were understandably very high in all areas at over 30% with Ribble Valley highest at 45%. The majority of 16 to 20 year olds in Lancaster and West Lancashire had level 3 qualifications which explains their low rates for all other levels.

Band 21 to 24 years. No qualification rates were around 7% in Lancashire-12, but around 11% in Burnley and Pendle. Similar pattern were seen for level 1. Lancaster was lowest for level 2. Over 7% were with apprenticeship in Ribble Valley. Lancaster and West Lancashire were highest for level 3 with around 40% or more, the average was 34.3% for Lancashire-12, but rates were under 30% in Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. Ribble Valley was highest for level 4 (41.3%).

Band 25 to 29 years. No qualifications were up to 14.1% in Pendle, nearly twice the Lancashire-12 rate, but were only 3.6% in Ribble Valley, which was also lowest for level 1. For level 3 all areas were in the 20% to 30% range. Rossendale was highest with 28%. For level 4, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Blackpool were under 40%, most were in the 40%s, but Ribble Valley was 51.5%.

Band over 30 years. No qualifications were around 27% in Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool but only 14.4% in Ribble Valley. Not much variation was seen in levels 1, 2 apprenticeship and level 3, but South Ribble was highest for level 3 with 17.3%. Level 4 ranged from 22.2% in Blackpool to 41.4% in Ribble Valley.

Table 2. Rates and rankings

Table 2 has a different type of filter that selects overall age bands with different minimum age. This is because the data had to be pre-grouped into these bands for the ranking calculation to work.

In the standard 16 year and over population, Lancaster was ranked 4^th out of 331 English and Welsh local authorities for Level 3, and West Lancashire ranked 14^th. South Ribble was only 33^rd. When only the 30 year and over population is selected Lancaster and West Lancashire rankings drop to 93 and 111 respectively, but South Ribble rises to 7. South Rbble also ranked 9^th for apprenticeship in this age range. Blackpool ranked 316^th for level 4 out of 331. Very few people gain a level 4 qualification before they turn 21, and some resume studying late in life, so using the higher age bands can give a clearer picture of a population who have largely completed their education.

Interactive report

Source: ONS Custom table builder 

Page created June 2024