Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adults aged (1) 24–40, and (2) 41–60, have applied for the free courses in (a) A Level equivalent, or (b) higher qualifications, since April 2021.

The free courses for jobs offer, launched in April 2021, gives adults the chance to access their first level 3 qualification for free. From April 2022, any eligible adult in England earning under the National Living Wage annually (£18,525 from April 2022) or unemployed, regardless of their prior qualification level, will also be able to access the scheme.

There are over 400 level 3 qualifications on offer in areas such as engineering, social care, and accounting, alongside many others. These qualifications can support adults to gain skills to improve their wages and access new job opportunities.

There were almost 12,000 enrolments reported on the level 3 free courses for jobs programme between April to October 2021. This enrolment figure will continue to grow as providers deliver to more learners throughout the year.

The latest published data shows 6,640 24 to 40-year-olds and 3,920 41 to 60-year- olds were reported as starting on level 3 qualifications available through the free courses for jobs offer between April and October 2021.

Qualifications above level 3 are not available as part of the free courses for jobs.