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General Certificate of Secondary Education: Disadvantaged

Volume 472: debated on Monday 3 March 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in receipt of free school meals gained five A* to C at GCSE, including English, science, mathematics and a foreign language in each of the last three years. (187165)

The information is available in the following table, which also lists those studying the compulsory subjects only.

Total number of pupils

Number achieving 5+A*-C inc. English, mathematics, Science and a foreign language

Percentage achieving 5+A*-C inc. English, mathematics, Science and a foreign language

Number achieving 5+A*-C inc. English, mathematics and Science

Percentage achieving 5+A*-C inc. English, mathematics and Science

Pupils eligible for Free School Meals

2004/05

80,554

6,541

8.1

12,089

15.0

2005/06

77,096

5,756

7.5

12,222

15.9

2006/07

77,502

5,755

7.4

13,156

17.0

Pupils not eligible for Free School Meals

2004/05

504,132

141,901

28.1

212,207

42.1

2005/06

517,650

132,941

25.7

219,511

42.4

2006/07

523,797

127,453

24.3

227,182

43.4

All pupils

2004/05

584,686

148,442

25.4

224,296

38.4

2005/06

594,746

138,697

23.3

231,733

39.0

2006/07

601,299

133,208

22.2

240,338

40.0

Notes:

1. Based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in maintained schools.

2. Figures for 5+ A*-C include GCSE and other equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16.

Figures for English, Mathematics, Science and a foreign language are based on GCSEs only.