Table 3 Our classification of highest educational attainment based on the ONS-LS educational variables
Education* | Highest educational attainment |
|---|---|
Census 1971; ONS-LS variable(s) used**: EDUC7 | |
High | Higher university degrees (EDUC7 = 0); Other degrees, and equivalents (EDUC7 = 1) |
Middle | A-level and equivalent (EDUC7 = 2); Other qualifications higher than A-level but below degree level (EDUC7 = 3) |
Low | None (EDUC7 = 4) |
Missing | None stated (EDUC7 = 5) |
Census 1981; ONS-LS variable(s) used: QMLVHIQ8 | |
High | Higher degrees of UK standard (QMLVHIQ8 = 1); First degrees and all other qualifications of first degree standard (QMLVHIQ8 = 2) |
Middle | Qualifications above GCE (O- and A-levels) but not first and higher degrees (QMLVHIQ8 = 3) |
Low | No qualifications obtained since the age of 18 (QMLVHIQ8 = − 9) |
Missing | Highest qualification is not stated (QMLVHIQ8 = 4) |
Census 1991; ONS-LS variable(s) used: QMLVHQT9 and QMQUAL19 | |
High | Higher degrees of UK standard (QMLVHQT9 = 1); First degrees and all other qualifications of first degree standard (QMLVHQT9 = 2) |
Middle | Qualifications above GCE (O- and A-levels) but not first and higher degrees (QMLVHQT9 = 3) |
Low | No qualifications obtained since the age of 18 excluding qualifications normally obtained at school (QMQUAL19 = − 9) |
Missing | Rest of “not applicable or missing” (Remaining of QMLVHQT9 = − 9) |
Census 2001; ONS-LS variable(s) used: HLQP0, and QUP0 and PQUP0 | |
High | First Degree (e.g., BA,BSc) (QUP0_5 = 1); Higher Degree (e.g., MA, PhD, PGCE, post-graduate certificates/diplomas) (QUP0_6 = 1); NVQ Level 4–5, HNC, HND (QUP0_10 = 1) |
Middle | Upper-level secondary qualifications, such as A-levels and advanced GNVQ (HLQP0 = 13); Professional qualifications (qualified teachers, medical doctors, dentists, nurses) without a degree (qualprofdegree = 0); Other academic (e.g., City and Guilds, RSA/OCR, BTEC/Edexcel) and professional qualifications (HLQP0 = 15) |
Low | No academic or professional qualifications (HLQP0 = 10); Qualifications below upper level secondary education, such as CSEs and GCSEs (HLQP0 = 11; HLQP0 = 12) |
Missing | Missing (HLQP0 = − 7); Not applicable (HLQP0 = − 9) |
Census 2011; ONS-LS variable(s) used: HLQP11 and QUP11 | |
High | Degree (e.g., BA, BSc) and higher degree (e.g., MA, PhD, PGCE) (QUP11_8 = 1); NVQ Level 4–5, HNC, HND, RSA Higher Diploma, BTEC Higher Level (QUP11_9 = 1) |
Middle | Apprenticeships (HLQP11 = 13); Upper-level secondary qualifications, such as A-levels, advanced GNVQ, advanced Baccalaureate (HLP11 = 14); Professional qualifications without a degree (QUP11_10 = 1 & QUP11_8 = 0 & QUP11_9 = 0); Other: vocational/work-related qualifications, foreign qualifications/qualifications gained outside the UK (NI) (Not stated/level unknown) (HLQP11 = 16) |
Low | No qualifications (HLQP11 = 10); Qualifications below upper-level secondary educations, such as CSEs and GCSEs (HLQP11 = 11; HLQP11 = 12) |
Missing | Missing (HLQP11 = − 6); No code required (HLQP11 = − 9) |