§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the percentages of those aged 18 years in both schools and colleges obtaining two or more A-levels for each year since 1970–71.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerInformation is not readily available for years before 1974–75. The table below shows the numbers of English school leavers and students at colleges of further and higher education, of any age, who attained two or more A-levels, expressed as a percentage of the average of the 18 and 19 year age groups.
England Qualifiers with two or more A-levels at schools and colleges as a percentage of the relevant age group1 Academic years Per cent. 1974–75 14.0 1975–76 14.7 1976–77 14.7 1977–78 14.8 1978–79 14.4 1979–80 14.4 1980–81 14.6 1981–82 15.1 1982–83 15.6 1983–84 16.1 1984–85 16.2 1985–86 16.0 1986–87 16.7 1 The numbers of qualifiers are derived from sample surveys. The figures are therefore subject to sampling error.