Rethinking Education and United Kingdom.
Date: 2016-03-22
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Subjects: United Kingdom, diffusion of innovations, digital literacy, education policy, higher education, labour market, learning, learning technique, new educational methods, new technology, teaching materials, updating of skills

What is the United Kingdom’s progress 
towards the 2020 benchmarks?

The EU’s Strategic Framework for Education and Training work 
programme includes the following benchmarks:
>    at least 82 % of graduates are employed within three years;
>    at least 95 % of children between the age of four and starting 

school participate in early childhood education; 

>    the share of 15 years-olds with insufficient abilities  

in reading, mathematics and science is less than 15 %; 

>    at least 15 % of adults between the ages of 25-64 participate 

in lifelong learning.

Figure 2 Education and Training 2020 – Benchmark

The proportion of 15 year-olds with inadequate skills in reading, 
mathematics and science continues to be lower than the EU 
averages (19.6 %, 22.2 % and 17.7 % respectively). These figures 
have remained broadly constant in recent years though there 
have been some improvements in science. The employment rate 
of graduates has fallen by five percentage points since 2006, but 
remained well above the EU average of 75.6 % in 2012. Adult 
participation in lifelong learning has fallen since 2006, but 
remained very high compared to the EU average of 9 % in 2012.

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m New ways of working
To combat early school leaving in the United Kingdom, the 
government is raising the age for leaving compulsory education in 
England from 16 to 17 in 2013 and  to 18 from 2015. In addition, 
since 2010 the government has measured school performance 
across a core set of subjects. This aims to encourage schools to 
offer vocational subjects that are relevant for entry into higher 
education or the labour market.

Where can I get more information?

Information on Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better 
socio-economic outcomes and the data used in this leaflet is 
available at: 
http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/rethinking_en.htm

Visit the following web pages for information on:
Europe 2020 Targets
http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/targets/eu-targets/
Education and Training 2020 benchmarks
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/
benchmarks_en.htm
Country-Specific Recommendations  
http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/
country-specific-recommendations/
Erasmus+
http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all/
Education and Training Monitor 2012
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/
monitor12_en.htm

European Commission
DG EAC – EDUCATION AND CULTURE
B-1049 Brussels

Rethinking 
Education
and
the United  
Kingdom

doi:10.2766/2252

Education and  
Training

0 %20 %40 %60 %80 %100 %10 %30 %50 %70 %90 %Early school leaversHigher education0204060801000 %20 %40 %60 %80 %100 %10 %30 %50 %70 %90 %  2006  2011  2006  2012  2006  2012  2006  2011  2006  2011  20062011Education and training 2020 – benchmarkEarly childhood education  Graduate employment Adults involved in lifelong learning Low achievers basic skills: reading Low achievers basic skills: mathematicsLow achievers basic skills: science0 %20 %40 %60 %80 %100 %10 %30 %50 %70 %90 %Early school leaversHigher education0204060801000 %20 %40 %60 %80 %100 %10 %30 %50 %70 %90 %  2006  2011  2006  2012  2006  2012  2006  2011  2006  2011  20062011Education and training 2020 – benchmarkEarly childhood education  Graduate employment Adults involved in lifelong learning Low achievers basic skills: reading Low achievers basic skills: mathematicsLow achievers basic skills: scienceWhat is the United Kingdom’s progress 
towards the Europe 2020 targets?

There are two education targets for Europe up to 2020.  
These are to:
>  reduce early school leaving rates to below 10 %;
>   ensure at least 40 % of 30-34 year-olds complete 

higher education.

Other Member States have national targets – this is not the 
case in the United Kingdom.  

Figure 1 Europe 2020 – Targets

50 %

45 %

40 %

35 %

30 %

25 %

20 %

15 %

10 %

5 %

0 %

2006           2012
Early school leavers

2006           2012
Tertiary attainment

EU target

In 2012 the United Kingdom was above the EU average 
of 12.6 % in relation to those leaving school early. Since 
2006 there has been a steady rise in the proportion of 
30-34 year-olds who have completed tertiary education 
– in 2012 the rate was significantly above the EU average 
of 35.8 %. This is important because the 2020 employment 
forecasts for the United Kingdom include a large fall in  
the number of jobs requiring low qualifications.

m  European Semester 2013:   

Country-Specific Recommendations

The United Kingdom, in partnership with the European 
Commission, has agreed a set of recommendations for 
2013 in line with Rethinking Education. These include 
measures to strengthen the quality of apprenticeships, 
simplify the qualifications systems and increase the 
quality and availability of early childhood education.

What is ‘Rethinking Education’?In 2012 the European Commission published a new vision for education to help reinvigorate economic growth and competitiveness. It sets out how education and training systems can provide the right skills for the labour market; and support people to secure their economic future and social inclusion.The Rethinking Education communication identifies how Member States can help adults improve their skills and engage in lifelong learning, and help equip young people with the skills they need to enter the labour market or establish their own business. It encourages stakeholders including employers, trade unions, and others to become more involved in the reform processes. To promote economic growth and innovation, Europe needs to invest more in people and their skills. At a time of high youth unemployment alongside two million vacancies across Europe, Member States are asked not to reduce education budgets, but to improve efficiency whilst ensuring equity and inclusiveness.Why is reform needed?The proportion of jobs in the EU that require higher education qualifications is expected to increase to 34 % by 2020 – alongside a fall in the number of jobs which require low levels of skill. Increasingly Europeans will have a changing and varied career in which they will be expected to think critically, take initiative, solve problems and collaborate within a team. Education and training systems need to address this new type of working life.Educational reform should:>  lead to a greater focus on learning outcomes, including those acquired through high quality work-based learning;>  reduce the number of early school leavers and increase lifelong learning;>  offer more support to the teaching professions; >  improve partnerships between education and training institutions and employers. How does Rethinking Education support Member States?Rethinking Education sets out a clear vision to strengthen the importance of the skills which are needed in all jobs, particularly digital, entrepreneurial and language skills. It stresses the value of apprenticeships, a European Area of Skills and Qualifications, and the potential of ICT and Open Educational Resources for learning, as well as greater (including financial) support for partnerships.Through the use of European targets and benchmarks, each Member State is able to judge its progress in some key areas, as well as assess where more effort might be needed.