Qualifications and skills
Fact checks about a-level results, GCSE results, SATs and literacy levels
Telegraph columnist wrongly claims literacy at the lowest level in UK history
A Telegraph article was wrong to say literacy was at its lowest level in history, and that every international league table puts the UK near bottom for literacy and numeracy. …
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Gavin Williamson did not say pupils will be overpromoted into jobs that are beyond their competence
Comments about A-level results incorrectly attributed to the Education Secretary have been widely shared.
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Scotland’s maths and science scores are falling in international tests but rising in national tests
Boris Johnson’s claims about education in Scotland are not all quite right.
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Are a quarter of 11 year-olds in England unable to read?
A quarter of year 6 students (10 to 11 year-olds) in England do not achieve the expected reading level in their SATs. This doesn’t mean they can’t read.
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GCSE results: boys drive slightly improved performance
Overall, there has been a slight pick-up in performance levels, after a couple of years of decline in pupils achieving higher grades. Performance among boys has increased in particular.
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A-Level results: beware of the headlines
Despite inevitable headlines focusing on shifts in results, A-level performance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland remains very stable.
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Spending for adult skills fell by 40% between 2010 and 2015
This funding pays for “further education” such as classroom and workplace learning for people aged 19 and over.
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Has the number of people starting apprenticeships fallen?
Yes. Apprenticeship starts in May to July this year were 59% lower than in the same period last year.
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Is youth unemployment at a historic low?
Youth unemployment in the UK is currently 12.5%, among the lowest it’s been since 2005.
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Is educational attainment in Scotland at record levels?
Figures on attainment in Scotland depend on which measure you prefer to look at.
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