Mr. BowlsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the most recent figures available on pupils' attainments in public examinations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe results from the 1989–90 school examinations survey are the most recent data which we have available on pupils' attainments in public examinations.
The survey shows that for 1989–90 there have been significant improvements in the examination results obtained by candidates both at 16 and at 18. There is also a decrease in the proportion of 16-year-olds achieving no GCSE qualifications. The key statistics which are available from the survey are:
the proportion of 16-year-olds with five or more GCSEs at grades A-C has increased from 33 per cent. in 1988–89 to 35 per cent in 1989–90;the percentage of 16-year-olds with no graded result in GCSE has continued to fall: from 7.5 per cent. in 1988–89 to 7.3 per cent. in 1989–90;the proportion of school leavers gaining two or more A levels has increased from 17 per cent. in 1988–89 to 20 per cent. in 1989–90. this is an increase of seven percentage points on the 1978–79 figure of 13 per cent.Furthermore, the overall participation rate for 16-year-olds has increased to 60 per cent. from 55 per cent. 286W in 1989–90 and 47 per cent. in 1986–87. There is evidence that the introduction of the GCSE has had, and continues to have, a beneficial impact in raising expectations and standards of attainment.