HL Deb 08 April 1998 vol 588 cc151-8WA
Lord Pilkington of Oxenford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish data for England giving, for comprehensive schools, grammar schools, modern schools, independent schools, sixth form colleges, other further education funding council schools and colleges, all state institutions and all institutions the number of candidates and the average A-level points per student taking each of the subjects physics, chemistry and biology at A-level in each of the years

in the attached tables. Data prior to 1994 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

1993 to 1997 showing data separately for students taking either GCSE Double Award Science or the respective GCSE separate science physics, chemistry or biology and giving in each case the average GCSE points per student for either GCSE Double Award Science or the respective GCSE separate science, physics, chemistry or biology and the average GCSE points per subject per entry per student and including, for each category of institution, the number of institutions. [HL1231]

Baroness Blackstone

The information requested in respect of GCSE and GCE A-level achievements is shown in the attached tables.

GCSE and GCE A/AS Level achievements of candidates entered for GCE A-level in Physics, Chemistry and Biology
1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in:
Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology
Comprehensive Schools
Number of candidates 12,358 12,256 13,674 11,372 12,403 14,857 10,873 12,596 15,477 10,667 12,160 15,909 11,298 13,225 18,374
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 15.8 15.8 12.7 16.0 16.1 13.3 16.6 16.6 13.7 17.7 17.9 14.7 18.3 18.2 15.0
Average A-level points per subject 4.5 4.5 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.2 4.9 4.6 4.2 5.0 5.0 4.6 5.3 5.1 4.7
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 52.6 53.1 51.0 53.8 54.6 52.8 55.1 56.0 54.2 57.1 58.0 55.6 58.4 59.0 56.6
Physics 52.5 53.5 52.4 54.7 56.1 55.0 57.8 58.6 57.4 61.4 61.9 60.4 64.0 64.5 62.8
Chemistry 53.0 53.0 51.6 55.4 55.6 54.1 58.2 58.3 56.7 61.7 62.0 60.3 64.1 64.4 62.6
Biology 54.6 54.1 51.0 57.0 56.7 53.6 59.5 59.0 56.3 61.7 62.0 60.2 64.2 64.5 62.4
All subjects 51.9 52.4 50.3 53.4 54.3 52.4 54.9 55.7 54.0 57.0 58.0 55.7 58.6 59.2 56.8
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.6 12.6 11.8 12.7 12.8 12.1 12.8 12.9 12.1 13.5 13.6 12.6 13.7 13.7 12.7
Physics 6.2 6.1 5.7 6.3 6.2 5.8 6.4 6.2 5.9 6.6 6.4 5.9 6.8 6.6 6.2
Chemistry 6.0 6.2 5.7 6.0 6.1 5.7 6.2 6.3 5.9 6.3 6.5 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.1
Biology 6.1 6.2 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.3 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.4 6.5 6.4
All subjects 5.8 5.9 5.7 5.9 6.0 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.8 6.1 6.2 5.9 6.1 6.2 5.9
Selective Schools
Number of candidates 2,958 3,018 3,221 2,777 2,937 3,350 2,767 3,163 3,510 2,850 3,372 3,655 3,172 3,736 4,296
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 20.4 20.9 17.6 20.8 20.9 17.6 21.6 21.3 18.0 22.5 22.2 19.0 22.5 22.7 19.7
Average A-level points per subject 5.7 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.0 5.7 6.4 6.0 5.8 6.4 6.3 6.1 6.5 6.4 6.3
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 55.6 55.9 54.3 56.1 56.9 55.3 57.8 58.6 57.0 59.9 61.0 58.9 61.5 62.7 60.8
Physics 56.2 57.7 56.8 58.4 59.8 58.4 60.5 61.3 59.9 64.7 65.1 63.9 66.1 67.1 65.5
Chemistry 56.7 57.4 56.2 58.9 59.4 58.0 60.9 61.1 59.5 64.8 65.1 63.9 66.1 67.0 65.4
Biology 57.7 57.9 55.8 59.5 59.9 57.5 61.4 61.4 59.0 64.8 65.1 63.8 66.2 67.1 65.4
All subjects 55.4 56.5 54.9 56.9 57.7 55.8 58.4 59.0 57.1 61.8 62.3 60.3 63.0 64.1 62.1
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.9 12.9 12.3 13.0 13.2 12.6 13.2 13.3 12.7 14.1 14.2 13.4 14.2 14.3 13.6
Physics 6.6 6.5 6.2 6.6 6.5 6.2 6.6 6.5 6.2 7.0 6.7 6.3 7.0 6.9 6.6
Chemistry 6.3 6.5 6.2 6.3 6.5 6.1 6.4 6.6 6.2 6.6 6.8 6.4 6.7 7.0 6.6
Biology 6.4 6.6 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.3 6.3 6.5 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.8 6.7
All subjects 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.5 6.6 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.4
Modern Schools
Number of candidates 95 64 144 96 74 144 112 120 174 53 70 132 54 92 190
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 9.5 7.7 8.0 9.9 9.6 8.2 11.8 12.0 10.4 9.1 10.5 10.6 13.5 13.7 11.6
Average A-level points per subject 2.6 1.8 2.3 3.0 2.4 2.4 3.5 3.4 2.8 2.2 3.0 2.8 4.0 4.1 3.5
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 46.3 45.5 46.3 47.3 48.8 46.2 49.7 52.8 50.4 53.5 52.4 51.5 54.7 53.6 53.0
Physics 47.1 53.6 50.3 49.7 47.1 52.4 54.8 55.8 58.4 60.5 58.0 na na 60.5 60.5
Chemistry 48.1 47.8 46.1 46.8 47.1 48.3 53.9 51.3 51.9 na na na na 60.5 60.5
Biology 52.0 45.9 45.7 51.4 52.8 48.8 51.8 48.4 49.8 na na na na 60.5 60.5
All subjects 45.5 45.4 45.6 46.9 48.6 45.6 48.9 51.4 49.7 53.4 52.4 51.3 49.5 51.0 51.8

GCSE and GCE A/AS Level achievements of candidates entered for GCE A-level in Physics, Chemistry and Biology
1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in:
Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 11.6 11.3 11.1 11.9 12.2 11.4 12.2 12.3 11.8 12.7 12.7 12.2 13.2 13.0 12.1
Physics 6.0 6.1 5.3 6.0 5.9 5.4 6.0 5.8 5.5 5.5 5.0 na na 5.5 5.5
Chemistry 6.0 5.9 5.2 5.2 5.3 4.9 5.6 5.5 5.3 na na na na 6.5 6.5
Biology 6.2 6.2 5.8 5.6 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.2 5.1 na na na na 6.0 6.0
All subjects 5.3 5.3 5.2 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8 5.6
na —candidates did not attempt subject at GCSE
Independent Schools
Number of candidates 6,008 7,131 6,652 5,747 7,102 6,955 5,907 7,543 7,190 5,619 7,280 7,371 5,395 7,187 7,598
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 23.0 22.7 19.0 23.2 23.4 19.9 23.8 23.5 20.4 25.7 25.3 21.6 26.0 25.8 22.0
Average A-level points per subject 6.5 6.6 6.2 6.6 6.8 6.4 6.9 6.8 6.6 7.2 7.1 6.8 7.3 7.3 6.9
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 53.0 53.2 52.1 56.7 57.4 55.5 59.1 59.6 57.2 60.6 62.2 59.1 61.3 62.8 59.5
Physics 54.3 55.1 54.3 59.8 60.6 59.0 61.6 62.3 60.9 64.7 65.2 63.3 66.4 67.3 65.3
Chemistry 54.6 54.9 54.0 60.1 60.3 58.7 62.0 62.2 60.6 64.9 65.1 63.1 66.6 67.2 65.1
Biology 54.9 55.1 53.5 60.6 60.6 58.2 62.4 62.5 60.3 65.4 65.3 62.8 66.9 67.3 64.8
All subjects 51.7 52.3 51.2 56.9 57.7 55.8 58.9 59.4 57.8 61.4 62.2 59.9 61.5 62.8 60.5
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 13.3 13.2 12.4 13.2 13.3 12.7 13.3 13.3 12.6 14.1 14.2 13.2 14.3 14.3 13.3
Physics 6.7 6.5 6.2 6.6 6.6 6.3 6.7 6.6 6.3 7.0 6.9 6.5 7.2 7.1 6.7
Chemistry 6.5 6.6 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.2 6.5 6.6 6.4 6.8 6.9 6.6 7.0 7.1 6.7
Biology 6.5 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.6 6.8 6.6 6.9 7.0 6.8
All subjects 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.6 6.7 6.4 6.7 6.8 6.6
Sixth form colleges
Number of candidates 3,830 3,891 4,613 3,890 4,180 5,202 3,662 4,434 5,703 3,481 4,352 5,987 3,571 4,755 6,840
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 17.6 17.6 13.9 17.3 17.5 14.7 18.0 18.0 14.9 19.2 19.6 16.1 20.4 20.0 16.6
Average A-level points per subject 4.9 5.3 4.4 4.8 5.3 4.6 5.2 5.3 4.5 5.3 5.7 5.0 5.8 5.8 5.1
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 53.2 53.8 51.7 54.5 55.2 53.4 56.1 56.7 54.8 58.1 58.7 56.3 59.6 59.5 57.0
Physics 53.0 54.2 52.8 54.8 56.2 54.8 57.7 59.5 58.0 61.1 62.1 60.3 63.0 63.6 61.8
Chemistry 53.7 53.8 52.3 55.6 56.0 54.1 58.2 58.9 57.1 61.5 62.0 60.2 63.2 63.5 61.4
Biology 55.3 54.5 51.7 56.8 56.9 53.4 59.2 59.5 56.7 61.6 62.2 60.1 63.6 63.7 61.3
All subjects 52.2 52.8 50.8 53.8 54.6 52.6 55.7 56.4 54.4 57.9 58.5 56.1 59.3 59.2 56.8
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.8 12.8 12.0 12.9 12.9 12.3 12.9 12.9 12.2 13.6 13.5 12.6 13.9 13.6 12.7
Physics 6.3 6.1 5.7 6.3 6.2 5.8 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.6 6.4 6.0 6.7 6.5 6.2
Chemistry 6.1 6.2 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.7 6.2 6.4 6.0 6.3 6.5 6.1 6.4 6.6 6.1
Biology 6.2 6.2 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.1 6.2 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.5 6.4
All subjects 5.9 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.9 6.2 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.2 6.0
Other FE sector colleges
Number of candidates 2,561 2,533 3,341 2,345 2,388 3,557 2,178 2,437 3,657 1,981 2,176 3,643 2,050 2,376 4,120
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 14.6 14.6 11.8 14.9 15.0 12.0 15.0 15.0 12.1 15.5 15.3 12.4 16.3 15.6 12.7
Average A-level points per subject 4.4 4.0 3.9 4.5 4.3 3.9 4.5 4.3 3.8 4.6 4.4 3.8 4.8 4.5 4.0

GCSE and GCE A/AS Level achievements of candidates entered for GCE A-level in Physics, Chemistry and Biology
1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in: GCE candidates in:
Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology Physics Chemistry Biology
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 51.6 51.6 49.7 53.4 54.1 51.7 54.6 55.2 53.0 56.0 56.2 54.2 56.4 56.8 54.3
Physics 50.4 51.4 50.0 52.9 54.6 53.1 55.5 57.8 55.7 58.9 59.5 57.3 60.0 60.5 59.6
Chemistry 51.0 51.2 49.4 53.7 54.2 52.0 56.1 57.5 55.2 59.4 59.7 57.2 60.8 60.7 59.1
Biology 52.7 52.1 48.9 54.9 55.2 51.4 57.4 58.3 54.7 59.5 59.7 56.9 61.4 60.7 59.0
All subjects 48.5 49.1 47.6 51.4 52.2 50.0 52.6 53.7 52.0 54.0 54.2 53.1 54.8 55.1 53.6
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.5 12.4 11.5 12.7 12.7 11.9 12.7 12.6 11.9 13.2 13.1 12.2 13.4 13.2 12.3
Physics 6.2 6.0 5.5 6.2 6.1 5.5 6.2 6.0 5.6 6.4 6.1 5.5 6.4 6.2 5.8
Chemistry 5.9 6.1 5.5 5.9 6.1 5.5 5.9 6.2 5.6 6.1 6.3 5.7 6.1 6.3 5.9
Biology 6.1 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.3 6.0 6.0 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.3 6.1
All subjects 5.8 5.8 5.6 5.8 5.9 5.6 5.8 5.9 5.7 5.9 6.0 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.8
Maintained schools and FE sector colleges
Number of candidates 22,009 21,959 25,191 20,649 22,195 27,334 19,740 22,958 28,752 19,171 22,360 29,659 20,300 24,409 34,046
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 16.5 16.7 13.4 16.8 16.9 13.9 17.4 17.3 14.2 18.4 18.6 15.2 19.1 19.0 15.7
Average A-level points per subject 4.7 4.8 4.3 4.8 4.8 4.4 5.1 4.9 4.4 5.2 5.3 4.8 5.5 5.4 4.9
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 52.8 53.2 51.2 54.0 54.9 52.9 55.4 56.3 54.4 57.4 58.2 55.9 58.7 59.3 56.8
Physics 53.0 54.3 53.2 55.5 56.9 55.7 58.3 59.5 58.0 62.4 62.9 61.1 64.4 65.0 63.2
Chemistry 53.6 53.8 52.4 56.2 56.5 54.9 58.8 59.1 57.4 62.7 62.9 61.0 64.6 64.9 62.9
Biology 55.4 54.9 51.7 57.6 57.5 54.3 59.9 59.7 56.9 62.7 62.9 60.8 64.7 65.0 62.8
All subjects 52.0 52.6 50.6 53.7 54.6 52.5 55.3 56.1 54.2 57.6 58.4 56.0 59.0 59.5 57.0
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.6 12.7 11.8 12.7 12.8 12.1 12.8 12.9 12.2 13.6 13.6 12.7 13.8 13.7 12.8
Physics 6.3 6.2 5.8 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.7 6.5 6.0 6.8 6.7 6.3
Chemistry 6.1 6.3 5.8 6.1 6.2 5.8 6.2 6.4 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.1 6.5 6.7 6.3
Biology 6.2 6.3 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.3 6.5 6.6 6.5
All subjects 5.9 6.0 5.7 5.9 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.8 6.1 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.2 6.0
All schools and FE sector colleges
Number of candidates 28,017 29,090 31,843 26,396 29,297 34,289 25,647 30,501 35,942 24,790 29,640 37,030 25,695 31,596 41,644
Average GCE A/AS points per candidate 17.9 18.2 14.6 18.2 18.4 15.1 18.8 18.9 15.5 20.1 20.3 16.5 20.6 20.6 16.8
Average A-level points per subject 5.1 5.2 4.7 5.2 5.3 4.8 5.5 5.4 4.8 5.7 5.7 5.2 5.9 5.8 5.3
Average GCSE points per student
Double Award Science 52.8 53.2 51.3 54.2 55.0 53.1 55.6 56.5 54.6 57.6 58.5 56.1 58.9 59 6 57.0
Physics 53.4 54.6 53.6 57.4 58.7 57.4 60.0 61.0 59.5 63.6 64.2 62.3 65.4 66.2 64.2
Chemistry 53.9 54.2 52.9 58.0 58.3 56.7 60.4 60.7 59.0 63.9 64.1 62.1 65.5 66.1 64.0
Biology 55.2 55.0 52.3 59.1 59.1 56.1 61.2 61.2 58.5 64.0 64.2 61.9 65.7 66.1 63.8
All subjects 51.9 52.6 50.7 54.4 55.3 53.2 56.1 56.9 54.9 58.4 59.3 56.8 59.5 60.3 57.7
Average GCSE points per entry per student
Double Award Science 12.7 12.7 11.9 12.8 12.9 12.2 12.8 12.9 12.2 13.6 13.6 12.7 13.8 13.8 12.8
Physics 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.5 6.4 6.1 6.5 6.4 6.1 6.9 6.7 6.2 7.0 6.9 6.5
Chemistry 6.2 6.4 5.9 6.2 6.4 6.0 6.4 6.5 6.2 6.6 6.8 6.3 6.7 6.9 6.5
Biology 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.6 6.5 6.6 6.8 6.6
All subjects 6.0 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.9 6.1 6.2 5.9 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.1