The information available can be found in the following table, which is also published in the SFR “GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07 (Revised)”, which is available on the Department's website here:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml
These figures are based on results in GNVQs rather than attempts. Information on the number of pupils attempting these qualifications is not held centrally.
Part I GNVQ Full GNVQ Intermediate Full Intermediate Full 1996-97 — — 15 31 1997-98 756 93 24 3 1998-99 1,270 245 199 22 1999-2000 1,909 277 294 41 2000-01 3,003 425 490 21 2001-02 17,174 2,278 10,825 316 2002-03 26,498 2,527 24,485 50 2003-04 — — 34,681 938 2004-05 — — 44,769 1,059 2005-06 — — 54,476 924 2006-07 — — 44,125 548 Note:1. Figures from 2004-05 based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4; figures for earlier years are based on 15-year-old pupils (age at start of academic year). 2. All figures are final, except 2005-06 and 2006-07, which are revised, figures for earlier years are based on 15-year-old pupils (age at start of academic year).
GNVQs represent a very limited percentage of the overall A* to C grades. Their contribution to the national overall pass rate in 2007 (60.3 per cent.) was just 3.3 percentage points. The contribution of academic GCSEs was 51.9 percentage points. The contribution of all GCSEs (including vocational GCSEs and short courses) was 53.9 percentage points. GNVQs have now been phased out. The last cohort sat the examination last summer. GNVQs will disappear from the Achievement and Attainment Tables from 2008.