Mr. HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have mounted advanced supplementary level courses in the current year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerA survey carried out by my Department last autumn shows that 407 maintained and independent schools in England have mounted GCE advanced supplementary level courses this year. This represents nearly 15 per cent. of schools with A-level pupils.
313WThese schools have mounted nearly 1,000 AS-level courses, most frequently in mathematics, computing, French and English. This accords closely with the priorities expressed by higher education.
In the schools offering AS-levels, 18 per cent. of the first year A-level pupils have also chosen at least one AS-level course. The five most popular subjects are those set out above, together with general studies. In total, over 6,000 pupils are on AS-level courses.
More than three times as many schools intend to offer AS level courses from September 1988. The survey indicates that 1,300 schools, which represents 50 per cent. of those offering A-levels, will also offer AS-level courses next year.
The full results of the survey will be published shortly.