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Science Courses (Higher and Further Education)

Volume 447: debated on Friday 16 June 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many science courses have been available in (a) higher and (b) further education establishments in each year since 1997 in (i) England, (ii) each English region and (iii) the Tees Valley. (73654)

Information on the numbers of courses offered by institutions is not held centrally. The following tables show the number of students enrolled on science courses since 1997.

Undergraduate students1 enrolled on science courses2 Government Office Region3 1997-98 to 2004-05

Region of institution

1997-98

1998-99

North

27,970

29,850

North West

62,540

66,125

Yorkshire and Humberside

51,645

54,420

East Midlands

36,450

37,350

West Midlands

44,090

45,300

East Anglia

9,165

9,765

South East

79,960

79,645

South West

36,235

38,170

Greater London

81,760

83,735

Total English Regions

429,815

444,360

The Tees Valley

6,005

5,740

Region of institution

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

North East

30,435

31,600

31,090

34,740

36,130

36,285

North West

68,570

70,760

71,000

77,570

82,135

81,925

Yorkshire and Humberside

55,725

56,095

56,105

64,210

62,235

62,320

East Midlands

36,190

37,345

38,410

42,850

46,895

46,470

West Midlands

46,315

47,995

49,500

54,595

57,415

57,350

Eastern

33,890

33,065

34,680

39,900

39,095

42,080

South East

52,620

53,370

54,200

59,815

103,220

110,420

South West

38,770

39,785

41,330

45,010

47,355

47,550

Greater London

89,715

93,975

98,040

105,845

106,410

109,870

Total English Regions

452,230

463,990

474,360

524,540

580,885

594,270

The Tees Valley

7,310

9,020

8,450

10,360

11,070

10,655

1 Based on a snapshot count of students, as at 1 December each year. 2 A new method of allocating students to subject groups was introduced in 2002-03, the main effect of which was to increase the number of students allocated to specific named subjects and decrease the number of students allocated to "Combined Subject" courses. This will have contributed to the rise in science enrolments between 2001-02 and 2002-03. Science includes medicine/dentistry, subjects allied to medicine, biological sciences, veterinary sciences, veterinary science, agriculture, physical sciences, mathematical sciences, computer science, engineering/technology and architecture. 3 The classification of Government Office regions was revised in 2000-01. Merseyside has been included with the north west. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Learning Aim Enrolments in FE in Science and Mathematics Area of Learning for 2002-03 to 2004-05

Enrolments by Region

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

National Office

25,394

716

674

East England

50,529

41,182

38,906

East Midlands

39,945

30,263

29,877

Greater London

86,676

72,696

64,060

North-East

35,756

30,567

27,992

North-West

85,789

75,601

68,740

South-East

81,984

71,333

69,410

South-West

42,660

38,143

40,495

West Midlands

70,339

58,726

54,783

Yorkshire and Humberside

52,353

50,926

45,789

National Total

571,425

47U.153

440,726

National Total—All FE Enrolments —All Subjects

8,249,256

7,872,271

7,845,818

Enrolments at Tees Valley Local LSC

2002-03

Tees Valley

14,669

2003-04

Tees Valley

12,515

2004-05

Tees Valley

12,475

Note: FE learning aim enrolments on aims classified as being in the 'Science and Mathematics' area of learning are given. Area of Learning is used rather than sector subject area as there are more historical data using this classification. Local office classification is based on the relation between providers and their lead LLSC. Data are not supplied for prior to 2002-03 as the definitions of programme areas and how to count learners changed at that point. Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Individualised Learner Record 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05