To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of school leavers from academy schools entered (a) employment and (b) other educational establishments upon leaving in the latest period for which figures are available; and what is the comparative average figure for other types of school. (181032)

The Department’s estimates of the number and proportion young people in employment, education and training can be found at the following link but they cannot be disaggregated by prior institution:

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000734/sfr22 2007.pdf

However it is possible to produce estimates of the proportion of academic age¹ 16-year-olds in education and Work Based Learning by school type at age 15 using matched administrative data. This will slightly underestimate participation compared to official estimates as it does not cover all those participating on post-16 education or training. It is not possible to produce estimates of those young people in employment by prior institution in this way.

Table 1 shows the proportion of 15-year-olds in (i) academies and (ii) all other maintained schools that go on to participate in education and Work Based Learning at age 16. The table shows that the proportion in education (81 per cent.) and in Work Based Learning (5 per cent.) in the year following the completion of compulsory education is the same for both groups of young people.

¹ Academic age is the age of the individual measured at the beginning of the academic year, 31 August. Academic age 16 is the first year after compulsory education, i.e. year 12.