Literature: GCSE

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many boys in (a) maintained and (b) independent schools were entered for an English literature GCSE examination in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2008; and how many in each category achieved (A) grade A*, (B) at least grade C and (C) grade D or lower in each year. (257526)

The answer is provided in the following table.

*200820051997*
GCSE English literature	Maintained	Independent	Maintained	Independent	Maintained	Independent
Number of entries	228,186	18,774	234,888	18,717	201,949	18,075
Grade A*	6,753	2,743	5,810	2,579	2,817	1,394
At least grade C	140,280	17,492	131,552	17,444	101,258	16,459
Grade D or lower	82,008	1,237	96,006	1,190	94,231	1,535
Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables.

Data for 2008 and 2005 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4.

Data for 1997 are based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the school year.

Volume 491: debated on Monday 27 April 2009