HC Deb 21 July 1975 vol 896 c65W
Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of school leavers left school with an approved certificate in each year since 1963.

Mr. Mulley

In England and Wales the proportions of pupils leaving school with either at least one pass in a GCE examination or at least one result of Grade 5 or better in a CSE examination were as follows:

Percentage
1963 … … … … 30.1
1964 … … … … 33.2
1965 … … … … 38.7
1966 … … … … 44.1
1967 … … … … 47.6
1968 … … … … 49.8
1969 … … … … 52.5
1970 … … … … 55.1
1971 … … … … 55.5
1972 … … … … 56.6
1973 … … … … 92.4*
1974 … … … … 79.0
* Due to the raising of the minimum school leaving age on 1st September 1972, a much smaller number of pupils than usual were able to leave school in 1973; the percentage for this year is therefore much higher than it would otherwise have been.

The percentages for the years 1965 to 1969 incorporate an element of estimation.