GCSE

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of children received five A*-C GCSE grades and equivalent in each year since 1996; and what qualifications are included as an equivalent to GCSE. (118192)

The Department for Educational and Skills has collected data for GCSE equivalencies since 2004. Prior to this, only GCSE and GNVQ data was collected at key stage 4. The proportion of pupils in England achieving five plus A*-C at GCSE and equivalent since 2004 is shown in the following table.

*Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving 5+A*-C at GCSE and equivalent*
	Percentage
2004	53.7
2005	56.3
2006¹	58.5
¹Figures for 2006 are revised. All other figures are final.

Figures reporting achievements in GCSE and equivalent qualifications include results in all entry level, level 1 and level 2 qualifications which are approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as appropriate for pupils pre-16. GCE and VCE AS levels are the only level 3 qualifications which have been included. The general range of qualifications, together with the qualification families into which they fall, are as follows:

General

GCE AS

GCSE (full course)

GCSE (short course)

Entry level 3

Entry level 2

Entry level 1

General Vocational

Applied GCE AS double award

Applied GCE AS/VCE AS

Full GNVQ, Intermediate

Vocational GCSEs

GNVQ Part 1, Intermediate

Full GNVQ, Foundation

GNVQ Part 1, Foundation

Occupational

NVQ Level 2

NVQ Level 1

Vocationally related

VRQ Level 2 or BTEC First

VRQ Level 1

Key skills

Key skills Level 2

Key Skills Level 1

Basic skills

Basic skills Level 2

Basic skills Level 1

Vocational languages

Intermediate GNVQ language unit

NVQ language unit at Level 2

Foundation GNVQ language unit

NVQ language unit at Level 1

Graded exams

Graded exam (grade 8)

Graded exam (grade 7)

Graded exam (grade 6)

Graded exam (grade 5)

Graded exam (grade 4)

Graded exam (grade 3)

Graded exam (grade 2)

Graded exam (grade1)

Free standing maths

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Other general

Other general qualifications L2

Other general qualifications L1

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of young people completing GCSEs only achieved five A*-C GCSE grades including English and mathematics in each year since 1996. (118193)

[holding answer 2 February 2007]: The following table shows the number¹ and percentage of 15-year-old pupils² who achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE only including English and maths in each year since 1996.

	Number of 15-year-olds achieving 5+A-C at GCSE only including E and M*	Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving 5+A-C at GCSE only including E and M*
1996	209,300	35.2
1997	209,100	35.6
1998	212,300	36.9
1999	224,100	38.6
2000	231,600	39.9
2001	244,700	40.6
2002	254,000	41.9
2003	258,300	41.5
2004	271,400	42.2
2005	277,400	43.6
2006³	286,900	44.2
¹Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. ²Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August. ³Data for 2006 are revised. Data for all other years are final.

Volume 456: debated on Tuesday 6 February 2007