1. Key Facts and Figures 2023/24

Key points:

Starts

955

Up 13% from 2022/23

Participation

1,870

Up 22% from 2022/23

Success

91%

No change from 2022/23

The academic year 2023/24 shows:

  • HLA starts continue to rise; 955 starts, an increase of 13% from 2022/23.
  • Approximately one third of starts were female; 305 females compared to 650 males.
  • 1,870 students were on an HLA programme.
  • Engineering and manufacturing technologies was the most popular sector subject area; accounting for 36% of all HLA participation.
  • 91% success rate; 500 of the 550 final year students achieved their HLA qualification.

Definitions

Starts:
The number of FE students who joined an HLA programme in academic year 2023/24.
Participation:
The number of students on an HLA programme in academic year 2023/24.
Success:
The number of final year FE HLA students who achieved an HLA qualification in academic year 2023/24.


2. About this report

This report presents analysis of the seventh publication of Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) in Further Education (FE) in Northern Ireland. HLA provision commenced at FE colleges in 2017/18 and at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in 2018/19. The HLAs reported on in this publication are funded through government training programmes. The report details key information on level 4, 5, 6 and 7 HLA FE programmes and characteristics of HLA students for academic year 2023/24.


3. Starts

Starts

The popularity of Higher Level Apprenticeships continues to rise, with 955 students joining an HLA programme in academic year 2023/24. This was an increase of 110 (13%) compared to 845 HLA starts recorded in 2022/23.

With the exception of a dip in 2020/21, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HLA starts have shown a consistent year on year growth, demonstrating the HLA pathway of combining hands-on experience with education is becoming a more prevalent option.

Figure 3.1: HLA starts continue to rise in 2023/24

HLA starts for academic years 2017/18 to 2023/24

Level and FE colleges

Level 4 to Level 7 HLAs are offered by Further Education providers in Northern Ireland. Level 6 were first offered in 2021/22 and Level 7 HLAs were introduced in FE in 2022/23. Level 5 HLAs recorded the highest number of starts, accounting for 83% (790) in 2023/24.

Table 3.1: South West College records the highest number of HLA starts

Number of HLA starts by FE Providers and HLA level, 2023/24

HLA Level North West Regional College South Eastern Regional College Northern Regional College South West College Southern Regional College Belfast Metropolitan College CAFRE Total
4 15 25 0 25 0 0 0 65
5 40 115 75 195 195 145 20 790
6 0 0 0 40 30 20 0 85
7 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 10
Total 55 140 75 270 225 165 20 955

Sex of Starts

Males continue to dominate the HLA start enrolments in 2023/24. Of the 955 starts, males accounted for 68% (650) compared to females at 32% (305). A trend has emerged showing more males are joining HLA programmes than females.

Figure 3.2: Males dominate HLA start enrolments in 2023/24

HLA starts by sex for academic years 2017/18 to 2023/24

Multiple Deprivation Measure

The lowest number of Northern Ireland domociled starts were recorded by the least deprived Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM) areas in NI. The least deprived (Quintile 5) recorded 110 starts, this was closely followed by the most deprived (Quintile 1), which recorded 115 starts.

Quintile 3 reported the highest number; 260 HLA starts.

Figure 3.3: HLA starts were lowest in the least deprived quintile

HLA starts by Deprivation Quintiles, academic year 2023/24

Sector Subject Areas (SSAs)

Engineering and manufacturing technologies was the most popular sector subject area (SSA) for HLA starts in 2023/24. It recorded 320 starts, 87% of these were males and 13% females. Engineering and manufacturing technologies has been the most popular SSA since the HLA programmed commenced in 2017/18.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

In 2023/24, 64% (605) of starts were studying HLA programmes in broad STEM areas. The proportion of HLAs in narrow STEM subjects was 46% (435); 84% of these were males. Non-STEM comprised mainly of females (62%).

Figure 3.5: Males dominate in STEM subjects and females in Non-STEM in 2023/24

HLA starts at FE by sex and STEM indicator 2023/24

Note: Narrow STEM is a subset of Broad STEM.


4. Participation

Participation refers to the total number of students enrolled on HLA programmes at FE colleges and CAFRE in the academic year 2023/24, this includes students in any year of an HLA programme.

Academic year 2023/24 showed an annual increase of 22% in the number of Higher Level Apprenticeship students in FE. In total there were 1,870 HLA students in 2023/24; this included 955 starts, 680 in year 2, 230 in year 3 and 5 in year 4.

Figure 4.1: Student HLA enrolments increase by 22% in 2023/24

The number of HLA students in FE, academic years 2017/18 to 2023/24.

Sector subject areas (SSA)

Engineering and manufacturing technologies HLAs remained the most popular among students accounting for 36% (675) of all HLAs in 2023/24. This was the most popular SSA among the male HLA participants, 595 males. The sector subject area Business, Administration and law recorded the most female HLA students; 205 females and 175 males.

Figure 4.2 Engineering and manufacturing technologies HLAs account for 36% of HLAs

The number of HLA students at FE by SSA and sex for academic year 2023/24.

HLAs (FE) by LGD

Mid Ulster had the highest number of students (335) on a Higher Level Apprenticeship in further education in academic year 2023/24.

Map

Map data

Local Government District Participants
Antrim and Newtownabbey 85
Ards and North Down 115
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 320
Belfast 140
Causeway Coast and Glens 95
Derry City and Strabane 110
Fermanagh and Omagh 200
Lisburn and Castlereagh 110
Mid Ulster 335
Mid and East Antrim 100
Newry, Mourne and Down 250
Unknown 10
Total 1870


5. Performance

Retention rate

98%

Up 1pp from 2022/23

Achievement rate

93%

No change from 2022/23

Success rate

91%

No change from 2022/23

Definitions of rates

Retention rate:
98% of final year FE HLA students completed the HLA programme in 2023/24.
Achievement rate:
93% of final year FE HLA students who completed the HLA programme achieved an HLA qualification in 2023/24.
Success rate:
91% of final year FE HLA students achieved an HLA qualification in 2023/24.

Males and females recorded the same success rates, namely 91%. In 2023/24, 150 females and 350 males successfully completed and passed their HLA programme.

Figure 5.1: 91% success rate for both males and females

Success rates of HLA students at FE by sex for academic year 2023/24.


6. Further Information and Contact Details

Excel/Open/CSV Tables

Detailed Excel/Open/CSV Data tables are available here.

Higher Level Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to gain quality training and a recognised higher qualification while in paid employment. To learn more about the DfE funded HLAs offered see Higher Level Apprenticeships. The length of a Higher Level Apprenticeship will vary depending on the programme and when the student joined the HLA programme.

For information regarding ‘Technical Notes’ on the methodology used to produce the statistics and information regarding definitions of terms within the report, please see the document: Technical Notes.

Contact Details

For further details on any of these statistics, or to provide feedback, contact: (Tel: 028 90 257708)

This publication is produced by Youth Training Statistics and Research Branch, Analytical Services Division, Department for the Economy.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing or via the OSR website.