According to a statistical release on student numbers and performance in the FE sector 3.7 million students were enrolled in 1999/2000 at FE colleges.

This is 100,000 less than in 1998-99 and 200,000 below the figure for 1997-98. However, the numbers enrolled at external institutions, undertaking FEFC-funded provision increased by 7,000 to 308,000.

The proportion of students aged under 19 is a little under 20% of the total, and has grown slightly. The majority of learners are adults studying, between them, for 3.7 million qualifications.

Achievement rates for full-time students have improved slightly, with students achieving 73.2% of the qualifications for which they studied in 1998-1999 and 75.8% a year later.

.pdf file version of the complete statistical release for 1999/2000 (requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader)