According to findings from the Office for National Statistics, in the last academic year, 1,446,600 people took skills for life courses in literacy, numeracy or English, 1,268,500 people took courses leading to a full level 2 qualification (equivalent to five good GCSEs) and 794,000 people took courses leading to a full level 3 qualification (equivalent to 2 A levels).
Overall, provisional data shows there did the Learning and Skills Council fund 4,754,700 learners taking Further Education courses in the 2008/09 academic year.
Skills minister Kevin Brennan said: "It's great news that the number of people starting and completing an apprenticeship is at the highest ever, and that over a million people have taken a course to improve their literacy and numeracy skills this year. Behind these figures are real people with brighter futures, greater self-confidence and better career prospects ahead.
"We need to keep on helping people access the training and skills they need to get work and to get on at work, and to be able to seize the opportunities that growth will bring. We are expanding apprenticeships, making it easier for employers to offer them, so that more young people can benefit. We also need to make sure adults can reskill and upskill so that they are in the best possible position to get the jobs of the future. Our National Skills Strategy, to be published later this autumn, will take this work forward."
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, added: "These figures are a welcome sign that the Government's investment in apprenticeships is paying off.
"Today's apprentices will play a crucial role in the future of our economy.
"Unions are working with employers to increase the number of apprenticeship starts. The Government must continue to lead by example by offering more apprenticeships in the public sector."
