We have been looking in detail at the value of the current data and statistics on post-16 education and skills. As an independent UK wide regulator, we are in a unique position to take a broader look at issues of importance to society and to make the case for improved statistics, across organisational and Government boundaries. 

This report, our second report in this topic area, explores the public value of post-16 education and skills statistics across the UK with a focus on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and updates on changes since the publication of our first, England only, report in 2019. 

Four key sectors comprise the majority of the post 16 education and skills statistics in the UK: workforce skills, universities and higher education, colleges and further education and apprenticeships, and each are covered in detail in our report. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the statistics that inform these sectors have been extensively researched at a UK wide level.  

Exploring the statistical landscape in this multi sector, multi country way has allowed us, to not only to identify the current challenges, information gaps and improvements to statistics in each sector, but to also highlight areas of good practice and shared learning opportunities. We have looked in detail as to how the current statistics are meeting the needs of users, focusing on the public value that the statistics give. In doing this we have been also been able to explore in detail how accessible the current statistics are and whether they are helping to inform a bigger, sector wide, picture. 

Post-16 education and skills affect the lives of millions of individuals in the UK. Good quality and accessible statistics are important to support the fair, efficient and effective provision of education and training. Alongside this report we will continue to engage with statistics producers to make the case for improved data and statistics in these sectors.