On the 10th January 2022, the Office for National Statistics released detailed univariate data from the 2021 Census covering the theme of ‘Education’.

This release includes the following data data:

Highest Level of Qualification	Output Area (OA)
Schoolchildren and Full-Time Students	Output Area (OA)

AThe data can be accessed on the Data Observatory via the updated Children and Young People Profile or via the Data Explorer.

To find out more about how to view this data in the Data Observatory please see our dedicated Census Phase 1 Update

You can also can access the data directly from the ONS website HERE

You can find an infographic highlighting the headline results for Hull here:

Summary Infographic: Education

Below you will find summary information for Hull which includes, for each of the two key areas listed above:

Headline results

Maps of useful datasets at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) / Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) Level

SUMMARY

There were 54,703 schoolchildren and full-time students (21.8%) in 2021 in Hull, out of a total 251,060 usual residents aged five years and over.

Around 1 in 5 usual Hull residents aged 16 years and over had Level 4 or above qualifications (for example, Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor’s degree and post-graduate qualifications); this was 21.7%, or 46,511 people.

In 2021, almost one in four adults in Hull (25.3%, 54,010) reported having no qualifications.

Across Hull, apprenticeships were the highest qualification for 6.9% of people aged 16 + (16,691).

Compared to nationally, Hull has a significantly higher proportion of adults with no qualifications and a significantly lower proportion of adults with Level 4 or above qualifications.

DETAIL

Schoolchildren and Full-Time Students

Census data can be used to identify the number of schoolchildren and students (aged five years and over) in full-time education. This is one way of looking at education in Hull.

In Hull, there were 54,703 schoolchildren and full-time students in 2021, out of a total 251,060 usual residents aged five years and over.

This is equivalent to 21.8% of the usual population aged five years and over, compared to 20.4% nationally.

The 2021 Census counts students at their term-time address.

As a result it is not currently possible to compare these figures with 2011, as publicly available 2011 Census data is based on schoolchildren and full-time students aged four years and over who are counted at their non term-time address.

2021 Census Map: School Children and Full-Time Students (LSOA)

Highest Level of Qualification

Census 2021 helps us to understand education in Hull through usual residents’ highest level of qualification.

Residents of England and Wales aged 16 years and over (48.6 million) were asked to record any qualifications (including academic, vocational, and professional qualifications) they had achieved in England, Wales or worldwide. This is used to calculate the highest level of qualification (so, the highest level of qualification that an individual reported irrespective of previous qualifications listed) using the following categories:

no qualifications: no formal qualifications

Level 1: one to four GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) and any other GCSEs at other grades, or equivalent qualifications

Level 2: five or more GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) or equivalent qualifications

apprenticeships

Level 3: two or more A Levels or equivalent qualifications

Level 4 or above: Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, or post-graduate qualifications

other qualifications, of unknown level

Across Hull, the largest proportion of usual residents aged 16 years and over (25.3%, 54,010) indicated that they had no qualifications.

The second most common category was Level 4 and above qualifications (21.7%, 46,511).

Apprenticeships were the highest qualification for 6.9% (14,691) of people.

Although highest level of qualification is broadly comparable between 2011 and 2021, there are caveats. The categories remain the same as they were in 2011 and are derived in the same way, however the way the questions were structured and how the respondent was routed in the qualification questions changed substantially from 2011. F These changes to the collection methodology mean that a reasonable proportion of respondents will have identified a different qualification level than they did in 2011 even though they still hold the same qualifications. Therefore, any change in qualification levels when compared with 2011 will be partly a result of the methodology changes and be partly indicative of real change. As such, we advise interpreting these with caution, avoid drawing conclusions from the differences or using them to inform planning or evaluate policies.

	Hull (2021)	England (2021)	Hull (2011)
No qualifications	54,010 (25.3%)	18.1%	65,851 (31.7%)
Level 1 and entry level qualifications:	24,163 (11.3%)	9.7%	30,362 (14.6%)
Level 2 qualifications	30,143 (14.1%)	13.3%	32,099 (15.4%)
Apprenticeship	14,691 (6.9%)	5.3%	8,371 (4.0%)
Level 3 qualifications	37,418 (17.5%)	16.9%	27,284 (13.1%)
Level 4 qualifications and above	46,511 (21.7%)	33.9%	31,687 (15.2%)
Other qualifications	6,944 (3.2%)	2.8%	12,386 (6.0%)

There has been a significant reduction in the adult population in Hull with no qualifications from 31.7% (65,851) in 2011 to 25.3% (54,010) in 2021. However, the current rate remains significantly above the national rate of 18.1%.

Similarly, whilst there has been a significant increase in the adult population in Hull with Level 4 and above qualifications from 15.2% (31,687) in 2011 to 21.7% (46,511) in 2021, the current rate remains significantly below the national rate of 33.9%.

Of note, there has been an increase in the adult population in Hull with apprenticeships from 4.0% (8,371) in 2011 to 6.9% (14,691) in 2021, and the current rate in Hull is above the national rate of 5.3%.

2021 Census Map: No Qualifications (LSOA)
2021 Census Map: Apprenticeships (LSOA)
2021 Census Map: Level 4 or Above Qualifications (LSOA)