§ 24. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in number and as a percentage of their age group achieved grades A to C in the general certificate of secondary education or 0-level(a) in the past year, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement. [26399]
§ Mr. AncramIn 1995–96,76.3 per cent.—19,263—of pupils in year 12 (aged 15 at the start of the school year) achieved grades A to C in GCSE. Comparable figures for 10 and 20 years ago are not available as the information on qualifications was collected only for school leavers. Comparisons on the qualifications of school leavers show that in 1994–95,75.5 per cent.—18,516—of school leavers achieved grades A to C at GCSE, 57.6 per cent.—15,468—achieved grades A to C at GCE O-level in 1985–86 and 45.3 per cent.—10,976—achieved grades A to C at GCE O-level in 1974–75.