The available information is given in the following table.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 All pupils2 Number 591,391 576,084 591,774 584,259 594,417 600,968 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C 49.0 50.7 51.9 54.9 56.9 59.3 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C including English and Mathematics n/a n/a n/a 42.5 43.8 45.4 Eligible for free school meals Number 80,626 81,278 82,738 79,839 78,179 76,641 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C 23.0 24.4 26.1 29.9 32.6 35.5 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C including English and Mathematics n/a n/a n/a 18.0 19.5 21.1 Not eligible for free school meals Number 477,798 493,336 508,060 501,857 514,779 522,088 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C 53.7 55.2 56.1 58.9 60.7 62.8 Percentage achieving 5 A*-C including English and Mathematics n/a n/a n/a 46.4 47.5 49.0 n/a = not available. 1 Figures for 2002 to 2004 are based upon pupils aged 15 whereas figures from 2005 onwards are based upon pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. 2 Includes pupils with unclassified Free School Meal status.
The percentage achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Mathematics has only been published since 2005.
Figures have been taken from the Statistical First Release ‘National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England’ which has been published annually by the Department since 2002. The latest figures, for 2007, are at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000759/index. shtml.
Figures for earlier years are not available split by free school meal status as this was first collected at pupil level on the School Census in 2002.