Frequently Asked Questions - Participation rates
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the participation rates statistics
How is age calculated?
Age relates to the 1 July in the year prior to the new academic year for pupils in Schools, students in Further Education Colleges and participants in Other Training. For instance, this means that typically a pupil entering Year 13 in school will be aged 16 at the outset of the academic year i.e from the 2 July onwards. A small number of pupils aged 16 may be in Year 12.
Age relates to the 31 August in the year prior to the academic year for students in Higher Education Institutions. Students born between the 2 July and 31 August and who were in the age 17 category in 2021/22 would be in the age 19 category in 2022/23. This may contribute to the difference between age 18 and 19 participation rates in Higher Education Institutions.
Age is taken at 30 June for the mid-year population estimates in the year prior to the start of the academic year.
What does Other Training include in participation rates?
Other Training includes persons on ApprenticeshipsNI, Training for Success, Skills for Life and Work that are not included in Further Education Colleges. Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) are also included in Other Training.
Why is the Entitlement Framework in Further Education Colleges not included?
Information relating to the Entitlement Framework in Further Education Colleges, where pupils’ attendance is linked to attendance at school, have been excluded to prevent double counting.
How is the Mid-year Population Estimate calculated?
The Mid-year Population Estimates are based on the Northern Ireland Census 2021 and adjusted for births and death registration data and net migration based on medical card registration and data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Further information on the methodology can be found at: