STUDENT numbers in further education rose 17 per cent last academic year, the Further Education Funding Council reports.
The figures come from the Individualised Student Record, introduced in 1994/95 and intended to make the FE sector the most open in education. But they are based on returns from only 3 out of 438 colleges. Just over 200 local authority maintained institutions offering provision funded by the council also submitted returns.
Part-time student numbers rose nearly 37 per cent, and full-time students 4 per cent. Adults account for 79 per cent of the 3.5 million students. More students are also taking vocational qualifications rather than GSCEs or A levels.