HC Deb 25 January 1991 vol 184 cc320-1W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the number of students taking A-level examinations in(a) schools and (b) further education colleges in 1979–80, 1983–84 and the latest available figures.

Mr. Eggar

For the academic years in question and for 1988–89, the total numbers of school leavers and home full-time students in further education colleges taking A-level examinations were as follows:

Thousands
1979–80 1983–84 1988–891
School leavers 131.55 145.93 138.63
FE students 31.70 36.00 34.76
As percentage of the relevant population
school leavers 17.3 18.7 19.1
FE students 4.2 4.6 4.8
1 Including AS examinations paired to equate to an A-level.