HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc920-1W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each year since 1979 the numbers and percentages of(a) students attaining GCSE, or equivalent, in each science subject, (b) students attaining A levels in science subjects, (c) students studying science and technology to degree level and (d) graduates in science and technology by university.

Mr. Boswell

The table lists for England the numbers and percentages of(a) students attaining GCSE, or equivalent, in each science subject and (b) students attaining A-levels in science subjects for each year since 1979.

Information on the numbers of students each year studying, and graduating in, science-including technological—subjects at English former University Funding Council funded universities is contained in volume 1 of "Students and Staff' published by the "Universities Statistical Record", copies of which are in the House Library. Comparable information for institutions recently awarded university status is not available in published form and I will write to the hon. Member with the data.

(A) GCSE results of pupils attaining science subjects
Academic year Maths Physics Chemistry Biology Other science Single/double science
1987 74.5 32.5 26.5 37.6 36.5 —
1988 74.8 32.3 26.9 35.7 36.9 —
1989 78.4 30.5 27.5 32.8 6.4 20.8
1990 77.5 25.2 23.5 28.0 5.2 32.0
1991 78.4 17.2 16.8 18.7 3.5 49.7
1992 79.3 9.3 9.2 10.0 2.9 67.2
1993 80.1 8.2 8.3 8.9 2.4 70.8

1979–88: data is for all school leavers (Source School Leavers Survey).

1989–91: data is for the 15 year old pupils (School Examination Survey).

1992–93: data is for 15 year old pupils, including special schools (Publication of the School Performance Tables).

Age as at start of academic years.

(B) GCE A/AS examination results of students in schools and further education colleges
Academic Year Maths Physics Chemistry Biology
(i) numbers in thousands
1979 41.8 32.9 29.6 25.6
1980 45.5 34.6 29.2 26.9
1981 47.1 35.5 31.5 27.7
1982 50.4 37.3 33.8 29.0
1983 51.6 37.0 33.9 30.2
1984 52.6 37.7 33.9 30.0
1985 53.6 36.9 34.0 29.5
1986 53.0 35.0 32.8 27.8
1987 50.0 31.9 31.3 28.0
1988 51.1 31.6 30.8 27.7
1989 48.6 30.9 29.5 28.4
1990 47.1 31.0 31.8 31.4
1991 44.5 28.5 29.9 29.0
1992 44.0 28.5 30.0 32.9
1993 44.3 27.4 29.0 32.6
(ii) as a percentage of 17 year old population
1979 5.6 4.4 4.0 3.5
1980 6.0 4.5 3.8 3.5
1981 6.1 4.6 4.1 3.6
1982 6.3 4.7 4.2 3.6
1983 6.5 4.6 4.2 3.8
1984 6.8 4.8 4.4 3.9
1985 7.0 4.8 4.5 3.9
1986 7.1 4.7 4.4 3.7
1987 6.8 4.3 4.3 3.8
1988 7.1 4.4 4.3 3.9
1989 6.7 4.3 4.1 3.9
1990 7.0 4.6 4.7 4.6
1991 7.0 4.5 4.7 4.6
1992 7.3 4.7 5.0 5.5
1993 7.6 4.7 5.0 5.6

1979–1991: data is for all school leavers (Source School Examinations Survey formerly the School Leavers Survey) and all students in Further Education Colleges (FE113 Survey).

1992–93: data is for students of any age in schools and Further Education Colleges who took examinations in the relevant year (School and College Performance Tables).

Age as at start of academic years.