Steady rise in proportion of pupils going to university in Northern Ireland

Progression into higher education is increasing among school students in Northern Ireland, new figures show.

A report on the qualifications and destinations of pupils who left school in Northern Ireland in the summer of 2012 was published today.

It shows that the proportion of school leavers to enter higher education rose from 39.9 per cent in 2007/08 to 42.3 per cent in 2011/12. Those going from further education colleges into higher education also increased, from 29.5% in 2007/08 to 34.6% in 2011/12.