Residents of England and Wales aged 16 years and over were asked to record any qualifications (including academic, vocational, and professional qualifications) they had achieved in England, Wales or worldwide. This is used to calculate the highest level of qualification (so, the highest level of qualification that an individual reported irrespective of previous qualifications listed) using the following categories:

• no qualifications: no formal qualifications

• Level 1: one to four GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) and any other GCSEs at other grades, or equivalent qualifications

• Level 2: five or more GCSE passes (grade A* to C or grade 4 and above) or equivalent qualifications

• Level 3: two or more A Levels or equivalent qualifications

• Level 4 or above: Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor's degree, or post-graduate qualifications

• apprenticeships

• other qualifications, of unknown level

The most common category was Level 4 for both England and Wales and Bury, followed by ‘no qualifications’.

Although highest level of qualification is broadly comparable between 2011 and 2021, there are caveats. The categories remain the same as they were in 2011 and are derived in the same way, however the way the questions were structured and how the respondent was routed in the qualification questions changed substantially from 2011.

The table below shows the highest level of qualification by MSOA in Bury.

Fernhill and Pimhole had the highest percentage of residents with no qualifications at 28.7%. Nuttall & Tottington had the lowest percentage at 11.6%.

The table below shows the highest level of qualification by ward.

Bury East had the highest percentage of residents with no qualifications at 27.3%.  North Manor had the lowest percentage at 12.6%.