HC Deb 23 July 1986 vol 102 cc215-6W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the proportion of leavers from schools or colleges with two A-levels, three A-levels, no A-levels but five O-levels, one to four O-levels or CSE grade ones, and one or more graded results, in the relevant age bands at which the examinations are normally taken, in the years 1964–65, 1974–75 and 1984–85.

Mr. Dunn

Data in respect of leavers from maintained and independent schools are as follows:

School Leavers, England
Percentages
Academic Year
1964–65 1974–75 1984–85
3+A levels 6.6 8.2 10.0
2 A levels 3.7 4.1 4.1
1 A level 2.6 3.2 3.0
No A levels but
5+O/CSE higher grades 1 37.9 8.5 11.0
1-4 O/CSE higher grades 1 315.2 25.6 26.8
No higher grades but 1+other grades 2 64.0 31.7 35.6
No graded results 18.9 9.4
Total leavers (000s) 606.66 651.71 736.21
1Higher grades are defined as O-level grades A-C and CSE grade 1
2Other grades are defined as O-level grades D-E and CSE grades 2-5.
3Prior to 1975 O-level candidates were awarded either a pass grade

Mr. Bob Dunn

The information on purchasing power parities and other data used in my revised answer of 12 June, at column 278, are given in the following table. The change in the consumer price index from the year stated in the table is used to inflate the unit costs quoted for that year to 1983 prices. The 1983 purchasing power parity is then applied to the revised unit costs to bring the various local currencies to a common basis, which allows for differences in national price levels. My reply of 2 July, at column 539, gives further details.

or were deemed to have failed. Grades A-C—higher grades—are defined as equivalent to the former pass level.

Source: School Leavers Survey. Data subject to sampling error.

Information on O-level/CSE attainments in FE establishments is not available centrally. However, the proportions of young people either leaving school or who were candidates at FE establishments achieving GCE A-level passes are given in the following table. These data are derived by reference to the 17-year-old population, a different denominator from that used in the preceding table.

School Leavers and Further Education Students 1with GCE A-level qualifications expressed as a proportion of the 17-year-old age group
2
Academic Year
1964–65 1974–75 1984–85
3+A levels 5.5 8.6 10.6
2 A levels 3.1 4.7 4.8
1 A level 2.5 4.2 4.1
1+A levels 11.1 17.5 19.5
1Full-time home and sandwich students aged 19 or under at 31 August prior to the academic year.
2Derived from GAD estimates of the population.

Source:

School Leavers Survey

FE 113 Stats Survey

Data subject to sampling error