§ Mr. Michael Spicerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average number of CSE, GCE O and GCE A-level-equivalent passes attained per pupil in each region of Scotland; and what percentage of pupils in each region of Scotland sit CSE, GCE 0-level and GCE Alevel-equivalent examinations.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe equivalent to GCE O-level is the ordinary grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education, which is normally taken in the fourth year of secondary education (S4) at age 16-plus. The nearest equivalent to GCE A-level is SCE higher grade, which is taken in the fifth (S5) and to a lesser extent the sixth year of secondary education (S6) at age 17-plus.
The number of H grade passes held by leavers from Scottish schools in session 1978–79, averaged over all such leavers including those who did not remain for S5 or S6, was 0.9. Comparable information about the average number of SCE O-grade passes held by school leavers is not available, because only the highest qualification obtained is recorded. The average number of SCE-O grade passes at bands A-C gained by pupils in S4 in the same session was 2.6. 74 per cent. of pupils in S4 were presented for 0 grade in 1978–79, and 73 per cent. of pupils in S5 and S6 for H grade.
Information about presentations and passes is not available to my Department on a regional basis. Information about the highest qualifications obtained by school leavers in each region is contained in SED statistical bulletin No. 9/E2/1980, a copy of which is held in the Library, and which I am also sending to my hon. Friend.
There is no equivalent in Scotland to the CSE, although CSE itself is taken by some pupils in certain Scottish schools. Figures for these are not available.