GCSEs (Hansard, 15 June 2004)

§ Mrs. Iris Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average point score of GCSE pupils in Northern Ireland was in each of the past five years. [177666]

§ Mr. Gardiner
The average point scores for GCSE pupils in Northern Ireland over the last five years are as follows:

Academic year Average point score

1997–98 35.1

1998–99 36.3

1999–2000 36.9

Percentage

Social class

I Professional II Intermediate III Skilled Non-manual III M Manual Skilled IV Partly Skilled V Unskilled

1995–96 8 41 15 24 8 4

1996–97 8 40 16 25 8 3

1997–98 8 42 17 22 8 3

1998–99 7 42 17 24 8 3

1999–2000 8 41 17 23 8 3

2000–01 9 40 18 23 8 3

2001–02 8 41 18 23 8 3

Notes:

1. Individual figures have been rounded which means that the sum of percentages in each row may not total 100.

2. The last year for which data on social class is available is 2001–02. From 2002–03, UCAS provide a Socio-Economic Classification (SEC) of students which is not directly comparable with the social class information.

Source:

UCAS

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government spending on student support in Northern Ireland has been as a proportion of gross domestic product in the last 10 years. [178243]

§ Mr. Gardiner
Student support information on the basis of Resource Allocation Budgets in Northern Ireland is only available in the Department for Employment and Learning from the 2001–02 financial year. Estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA), previously known as gross domestic product, are not yet available for Northern Ireland beyond 2001–02. Currently, therefore, the only year for which the
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Academic year Average point score

2000–01 36.9

2001–02 37.7

2002–03 37.9

§ Mrs. Iris Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether vocational GCSE grades are included when calculating the average point scores of pupils in Northern Ireland. [177668]

§ Mr. Gardiner
Vocational GCSE's were introduced in September 2002. The first awards are expected at the end of the 2003–04 academic year. From this point they will be included in the calculation of average point scores of pupils in Northern Ireland.

Academic year	Average point score
1997–98	35.1
1998–99	36.3
1999–2000	36.9

Percentage
	Social class
	I Professional	II Intermediate	III Skilled Non-manual	III M Manual Skilled	IV Partly Skilled	V Unskilled
1995–96	8	41	15	24	8	4
1996–97	8	40	16	25	8	3
1997–98	8	42	17	22	8	3
1998–99	7	42	17	24	8	3
1999–2000	8	41	17	23	8	3
2000–01	9	40	18	23	8	3
2001–02	8	41	18	23	8	3
Notes:
1. Individual figures have been rounded which means that the sum of percentages in each row may not total 100.
2. The last year for which data on social class is available is 2001–02. From 2002–03, UCAS provide a Socio-Economic Classification (SEC) of students which is not directly comparable with the social class information.
Source:
UCAS