New Government report: 'Maths and science education: the supply of high achievers at A-level'

A new report was published last month by the Department for Education which focussed on the supply of high achievers at A-level. The report found that at Key Stage 5 there has been a supply of young people gaining good A-level grades in mathematics and science subjects, such that they would be eligible to continue on to university to study these subjects and subsequently to take up careers in these subject fields.

Key findings from the report include:

  • The average grades achieved for all maths and science A-levels have risen over the period from 1996 to 2010. The main increases have been in the proportions of A grades, and to a lesser extent, B grades. The proportions of C-D grades have remained fairly stable, with Ungraded results and, to a lesser extent, grade Es shrinking as a proportion of entries.
  • AS-level entries in all four mathematics and science subjects increased in 2010, suggesting that further increases in A-level entries are likely in 2011. These likely increases look robust in mathematics and biology, but smaller in chemistry, and less certain in physics due to its slightly higher and increasing proportion of non-converted AS-levels, where the candidates have not continued to full A-level.
  • A higher proportion of female entrants than male entrants achieve grades A or B at A-level in all four subjects. However, of the science A-levels, girls are more likely to choose biology; and hence a lower proportion of girls than boys get high grades in mathematics, physics or chemistry. The gender effects on A-level entry were most pronounced for physics.

You can download the full report from the left-hand side of this page.

This article originally appeared on the STEM Advisory Forum website.



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