§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total number of state secondary schools in Wales; how many of them provide GCSE and A-level course, respectively, in(a) German, (b) Latin or (c) Spanish; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if it is possible to study (a) Italian or (b) Japanese to GCSE or A-level standard at any state school in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThere are 232 maintained secondary schools in Wales. Subject to the requirements of the Education Reform Act responsibility for the provision of subjects of study leading to GCSE or GCE advanced certification rests with individual secondary schools.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales(a) sat and (b) passed GSCE and A-level (i) German, (ii) Italian, (iii) Japanese, (iv) Latin or (v) Spanish, respectively, in each year since 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe numbers of candidates in Wales who sat and passed GCSE and A-level examinations conducted by the Welsh Joint Education Committee in German, Italian, Japanese, Latin and Spanish in each year since 1987, are given in the following tables:
493W
German Italian Japanese Latin Spanish 1988 Candidates entered 1,956 57 — 246 361 Grades A–G 1,948 57 — 236 360 1989 Candidates entered 2,202 49 6 141 389 Grades A–G 2,198 49 6 139 388 1990 Candidates entered 2,361 90 — 122 489 Grades A–G 2,359 90 — 116 489 1 Some candidates were examined through the common syllabus, and hence counted twice. 2 GCSE was not introduced until 1988, for 1987 "O" level grades A–E and CSE grades 1–5 were added together to give a comparison with GCSE grades A–G in subsequent years.
A Level German Italian Japanese Latin Spanish 1987 Candidates entered 205 9 — 45 69 Grades A–E 195 9 — 40 63 1988 Candidates entered 251 12 — 30 72 Grades A–E 224 12 — 27 61 1989 Candidates entered 193 7 7 27 73 Grades A–E 175 7 5 23 68 1990 Candidates entered 323 9 3 25 95 Grades A–E 303 8 3 20 90