HC Deb 05 March 1984 vol 55 cc411-2W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils gained O-level or A-level passes in foreign languages other than German, French and Russian in each year since 1970; and how these were divided between different languages.

Mr. Dunn

[pursuant to his reply, 1 March 1984, c. 269]: The number of passes gained by all candidates at GCE summer examinations in the foreign languages requested are given in the tables following:

GCE Summer Examinations*
O-level passes‡
Greek║ Italian Spanish Other modern languages
1970 1,341 2,408 6,411 2,661
1971 1,520 2,291 6,533 2,767
1972 1,466 2,441 7,212 2,954
1973 1,589 2,319 7,343 2,964
1974 1,400 2,216 7,295 2,770
1975 3,131 2,729 7,516 3,536
1976 1,989 2,319 7,585 4,237
1977 1,349 1,916 7,437 5,264
1978 1,349 1,963 7,864 4,171
1979 1,370 1,997 7,982 5,185
1980 1,313 2,043 8,338 5,091
1981 1,291 2,009 8,462 4,273
1982 1,311 1,919 8,197 4,368

A-level passes
Greek║ Italian Spanish Other modern languages
1970 796 720 1,997 612
1971 704 707 2,019 613
1972 712 712 1,936 616
1973 624 693 1,901 694
1974 564 640 1,881 968
1975 547 619 2,014 922
1976 535 715 1,936 1,020
1977 519 568 1,940 979
1978 495 604 1,967 919
1979 539 594 2,037 752
1980 487 621 2,048 895
1981 483 510 2,176 822
1982 527 593 2,262 900

Source: Examination boards survey.

* Includes passes gained by candidates at maintained and independent schools, establishments of further education, and candidates entering under private arrangements and from overseas.

† Data from English and Welsh boards for 1970 to 1977, English boards only from 1978.

‡ O-level pass for 1970 to 1974, grades A-C for 1975 and subsequent years.

║ Includes ancient/classical Greek.

Figures for 1983 are not yet available.