Three and four year-olds in education (all schools)
Seventy-two per cent of three and four year-olds participated in some form of school education in London in 2001/02, compared with 64 per cent for England as a whole. Over the last four years, the proportion of three and four year-olds receiving full- or part-time education increased more rapidly in London than in England as a whole, rising by seven percentage points compared with two percentage points.
The number of children educated in London's maintained primary schools increased by over 74,000 between 1991/92 and 2001/02, compared with over 44,000 in the previous decade.
London had a fifth of the 1,000 Beacon Schools in England in September 2002. The ’Beacon School Initiative’ aims to raise standards in education by encouraging schools to develop their own mission and ethos, and to share best practice.
London is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in Europe, encompassing many faiths and languages. The ‘London Challenge’, announced by the Government in 2002, aims to develop ways in which to meet the changing needs of pupils, ensuring that schools' programmes of activities reflect cultural diversity.
A higher proportion of young people took part in post-compulsory education or government supported training in London than in England as a whole - 69 per cent of 17 year-olds and 81 per cent of 16 year-olds compared with England averages of 66 per cent and 77 per cent respectively in 2000/01.
Source: Department for Education and Skills
Notes: Headcounts of children aged three and four at 31 December of the first year shown expressed as a percentage of the three and four year-old population. Numbers of three and four-year olds in schools may include some two year-olds. Any child attending more than one provider in England may have been counted twice.
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