Campaigning news
Adult skills survey results released today
1 Dec 2011
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has today released its 2011 Skills for Life Survey research findings. The survey focused on a national profile of adult literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skills for 16-65 year olds. It was designed to allow direct comparison with earlier findings in 2003.
This report includes breakdowns of literacy across the five lowest levels of the National Qualifications Framework (from Entry Level 1 and below to Level 2 and above) and demonstrates significant shifts which may reflect the impact of government investment in literacy as well as the work of organisations like the National Literacy Trust.
The report finds that the number of people with relatively poor literacy skills has declined, whilst the number with the poorest skills has not changed significantly. Overall 56.6 per cent of respondents achieved a Level 2 or above core in literacy, which is a large increase from 44.2 per cent in 2003. Level 2 is the equivalent of a good GCSE grade A*-C). There has been a significant drop in Level 1s (equivalent to GCSE grades D-G), down from 39.5% to 25.8%. The number of 16-65 year olds at or below entry Level 3 (the equivalent expected by the National Curriculum of 11 year olds) is 15% - it has not changed significantly since 2003. The number of adults with entry Level 1 (the equivalent of National Curriculum 5-7 year old) has grown slightly between 2003 and 2011 from 3.4% to 5%. Using these figures, the research estimates that 1.1million adults in the UK has this level of literacy.
Read the full findings at bis.gov.uk
