This chapter examines students’ engagement with further education (FE) with an emphasis on national framework of qualifications (NFQ) course level and field of study.

The commentary focuses on the 2012/2013 academic years. The data upon which this analysis rests are drawn from a multitude of sources including the post-primary online database (PPOD) for PLC enrolments, QQI, which indicate FE awards, as well as SOLAS/FÁS. 

Over one quarter (25.9%) of 50,810 LCE Completers from the 2012/2013 academic year are active in further education in the first year (2013) after post-primary education.  This figure rises to, and peaks at, 31.4.% in outcome year two (2014), and falls to 10.9% by year five. A further 0.3% were in apprenticeships in year one, rising to 0.9% in year five.

Early Leavers have similar rates of FE activity in year one, with 24.7% of 2,810 students active, rising to 33.6% in year three and falling to 21.6% in year five. A further 0.3% were in apprenticeships in year one, rising to 0.7% in year five.

These percentages include students who were active in higher education in the same year. The outcomes reported in the chapter are breakdowns of the annual participation numbers. 

Stabank tables: PPO06 - Further education activity

NFQ Level 5 represents the highest proportion of further education activity for LCE Completers

In year one, 68.7% of 13,180 LCE Completers from the 2012/2013 academic year were enrolled in an NFQ Level 5 course while 21.4% of administrative records did not indicate a NFQ level (see Methodology). For Early Leavers, the primary level of activity recorded in year one was NFQ Level 4 with 39.9% of 700 students active at this level.

Statbank tables: PPO07 - Further education activity by NFQ level

Almost one-fifth of further education students studying courses in 'Services'

This section presents trends in course activity by International Standard of Education Classification (ISCED) course type (see Methodology). The primary field of study recorded for LCE Completers in the 2012/2013 academic year in FE in year one was 'Services' with 17.8% of 13,180 active although no record for field of study was available for 21.4% of FE students in this instance. For Early Leavers, the primary field was Generic Programmes, with 33.0% of 700 students active in these courses in year one. No field of study was available for 17.2% of Early Leavers active in FE.

Statbank tables: PPO08 - Further education activity by field of study