This report presents information on English adult participation rates in further education, training and apprenticeships, and also on the prevalence of different levels of academic qualification in adults.

Here’s the latest provisional data for the 2015/2016 academic year:

• 1,614,400 learners participated in government-funded adult further education in the first two quarters of 2015/2016.
• 708,900 funded apprentices participated on an apprenticeship in the first two quarters of 2015/2016.
• There were 251,100 apprenticeship starts in the first two quarters of the 2015/16 academic year.
• 624,100 adult learners participated on English and maths courses in the first two quarters of 2015/2016.
• There were 75,400 learners with a 24+ advanced learning loan in 2014/2015, an increase of 27.5 per cent on 2013/2014.
• There were 19,400 traineeship starts in 2014/2015, an increase of 86.3 per cent on 2013/2014.
• In 2014/2015, there were 609,700 adult learners participating on a community learning course, a decrease of 7.2 per cent on 2013/2014.
• There were 101,600 offenders aged 18 and over in the prison system participating in learning in 2014/2015, an increase of 6.6 per cent on 2013/2014.