New generation of mathematicians and scientists building Britain’s future

Continued popularity of English, History and Geography explodes myth that ‘traditional’ subjects are in decline

ENGLAND – School’s minister Iain Wright hailed a new generation of mathematicians and scientists with top-grade A levels as being the key to building a strong economy and highly skilled workforce.

The UK 2009 A level and AS results show the number of learners taking Mathematics and Further Maths A levels are at their highest levels for well over a decade.

This is the first year the new Extended Project qualification, worth half an A level, has been awarded, with students doing in-depth, independent research into a subject of their choice.

Backed by universities, the Extended Project has been designed so students can show off the research and analytical skills and academic flair they need for higher education and the world of work.

This is the first year of the new AS levels with new A2 exams introduced next year – with changes including challenging students through open-ended questions requiring them to draw on knowledge across the syllabus and produce more extended written responses.
Next year will see the new A* grade awarded for the first time to recognise the very highest achievement.

The results show:

• An overall 2.3 per cent increase in individual entries at A level (846,977 up from 827,737 last year) – meaning there has been a 20.8 per cent rise in A level entries since 2002. There was a 4.4 per cent rise in AS level entries this year (1,177,347 up from 1,128,150).

• Overall pass rates at both A level and AS level have remained broadly steady, with 97.5 per cent obtaining grades A-E at A level this year (97.2 per cent in 2008) and 88.1 per cent obtaining grades A-E at AS level (88.2 per cent in 2008).

• A rise in the proportion of A grades at A level from 25.9 per cent to 26.7 per cent this year with the proportion getting A-grades at AS level rising from 18.7 per cent to 19.5 per cent.

• A big 12.2 per cent rise in numbers taking mathematics A levels – up to 72,475 from 64,593 last year. It means there has been a 20.6 per cent rise since 2007. Further maths was also up 15.2 per cent to 10,473 entries from 9,091 last year.

• Maths and Further Maths saw the highest proportion of A-grade candidates.

• Physics A level saw an above average 4.8 per cent rise to 29,436 entries from 28,096 last year and chemistry A level saw a two per cent rise to 42,491 from 41,680.

• English remains the most popular A level – with 91,815 entries or 10.8 per cent of all candidates. It was followed by mathematics (8.6 per cent of candidates) and biology (6.6 per cent).

• The biggest overall year-on-year increases in A level entrants were in further mathematics (15.2 per cent); economics (13.2 per cent); mathematics (12.2 per cent).

• 5094 students completed the new Extended Project this summer – with an overall pass rate of 90.3 per cent.

Mr Wright said: “These are excellent results and reflect the hard work of both students and their teachers and the support of parents.

“ They are a direct result of the massive improvements in teaching and leadership in schools and colleges which Ofsted has been reporting for years.

“Critics who belittle better results and infer that the only way to measure a successful education system is by young people failing A levels are insulting the hard work of students and teachers and the great support that parents give their children during these difficult qualifications.

“These results yet again explode the myth that so-called ‘traditional’ subjects are in decline – the biggest increases are in Maths, Further Maths and Economics with entries also up in English, Physics, History, Chemistry and Geography.

“Taken together these subjects saw a rise of more than 16,500 entries – a figure that is 87 per cent of the overall rise of over 19,000.

“But at this time of celebrating the success of young people passing A Levels, it is important to remember that despite our progress in the past decade, six out of 10 young people do not do A levels at all.

“That is why it is so vital we give all young people the opportunities they need and deserve – by raising the education or training age to 18 from 2015; the September Guarantee giving all 16 and 17-year-olds training and education; the massive expansion of apprenticeships; and the introduction of Diplomas.”