Lifelong Learning Policy in Scotland:
Is it making a difference?
Jim Gallacher
Co-director
Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning
Glasgow Caledonian University
Lifelong Learning
A Framework for Collaboration
• Parliament Inquiry into Lifelong Learning published 2002
(http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/com
mittees/historic/x-enterprise/reports-02/elr02-0901.htm)
• Joint Scottish Funding Council for Further and
Higher Education (SFC) - established 2005
– SFC Corporate Plan 2006
• Scottish Government Director General Educationresponsible for education, training and lifelong
learning - 2007
– Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy (Scottish
Government, 2007)
Policy Context
• Increased emphasis on ‘cradle to grave’
approach to lifelong learning
• Social Inclusion
– ‘Scotland’s colleges and universities to offer - within the
total volume of learning set by Scottish Ministers - fair
access to a diverse range of learning programmes
suited to individual learners’ (SFC Corporate Plan Aim 1)
– Learning for All (Scottish Funding Councils)
– Articulation for all (SFC)
– Access & Inclusion Committee (SFC)
– More Choices More Chances (Scottish Executive, 2006)
– Greater emphasis on progression and retention
• Skills Development and Employability
– ‘Learning provision & programmes offered by Scotland’s
colleges & universities to be relevant to students lives &
careers, society and economy’ (SFC Corporate Plan Aim 2)
– Learning to Work (SFC)
– SFC Skills Committee
– ‘Skills for Scotland- A lifelong Learning Skills Strategy’
(Scottish Government 2007)
– ‘This strategy sets out what our objectives need to be to
develop a cohesive lifelong learning system centred upon the
individual but responsive to employer needs’ (Skills Strategy)
– Skills Development Scotland - established 2008.
Cumulative attainment in publicly funded schools at
end of S6 by Gender and SCQF level 2005-06
S4 Role
%
Achieving
3+ awards
at Level 6
%
Achieving
5+ awards
at Level 6
%
Achieving
1+ awards
at Level 7
Male
30,690
26.5
17.2
11.4
Female
29,748
33.6
22.3
13.7
More Choices, More Chances
• Substantial proportion of 16 -19 age group
are in More Choices, More Chances group
(Not in education, employment or training)
– 2006: 11% of young women, 14% of
young men
– Scotland has lowest percentage of 15 19 year-olds in education or training in
OECD - only about 63% compared with
OECD average of 83% (2003 data).
HE Participation Rates
Local Authority
SPR
Aberdeen City
1.23
Dundee City
1.17
East Dunbartonshire
1.46
East Renfrewshire
1.47
Edinburgh City
1.03
Eilan Siar
1.23
Falkirk
0.76
Fife
0.96
Glasgow City
0.92
Stirling
1.12
Scotland
1.0
Scottish domiciled students participation in
Colleges and HEIs by level and deprivation quintile
2005-06
College
HE level
College
FE level
HEI
Least deprived
quintile
18%
16%
31%
2nd quintile
19%
20%
25%
Middle quintile
19%
21%
19%
4th quintile
22%
21%
15%
Most deprived
quintile
22%
22%
10%
Total
100%
100%
100%
Percentages of students from most deprived
quintiles in HE sectors in Scotland
2000-01
2005-06
Ancient
universities
8%
8%
1960
universities
Post 92
universities
11%
12%
15%
14%
Colleges
18%
22%
Young fulltime first degree entrants 2005/06
(HESA PIs)
Scotland
% from NSSEC classes
4,5,6 & 7
27.3
% from low
participation
neighbourhoods
18.6
Wales
29.0
16.4
England
29.1
13.5
Northern
Ireland
41.0
10.7
UK
29.3
14.0
Summary & Challenges
• Participation rates in HE high - but have declined
Age Participation Index (API) - peaked 2001/02 at
51.5 - 2005/06 declined to 47.1
• HE in FE a major aspect of HE in Scotland (about
23% of undergraduate level students (f-t & p-t) but this is declining
• Persistent and growing gender gap 2005/06 API:
Females 53.5 Males 41.0
• Persistent social class inequalites