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GCSE: Gifted Children

Volume 506: debated on Tuesday 2 March 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils with gifted and talented status achieved (a) three As at A-level, (b) five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A* to C excluding equivalents and (c) at least one GCSE pass at grade C or above, excluding equivalents in (i) 1997, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2006 and (iv) the most recent year for which figures are available. (316855)

The information requested for the academic years 2005/06 and 2008/09 is in the following tables. Data on gifted and talented pupils were not collected before the 2005/06 academic year.

GCSE achievements of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 at the end of key stage 4, 2005/06 and 2008/09

2005/06

2008/09

Number of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 at the end of key stage 4

63,819

93,100

Number of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 who achieved five or more GCSEs including English and mathematics at grade A*-C excluding equivalents

53,570

81,143

Percentage of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 who achieved five or more GCSEs including English and mathematics at grade A*-C excluding equivalents

83.9

87.2

Number of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 who achieved at least one GCSE pass at grade C or above excluding equivalents

62,454

91,611

Percentage of gifted and talented pupils1, 2 who achieved at least one GCSE pass at grade C or above excluding equivalents

97.9

98.4

1 Pupils attending maintained schools only including city technology colleges and academies. 2 The question on the school census does not differentiate between gifted pupils and talented pupils. Source: National Pupil Database (2005/06 final data, 2008/09 revised data).

A level achievements of gifted and talented students1, 2, 3, 2005/06 and 2008/09

2005/06

2008/09

Number of gifted and talented students1, 2, 3

10,683

31,469

Number of gifted and talented students1, 2, 3 who achieved three grade As at A level4

3,152

8,136

Percentage of gifted and talented students1, 2, 3 who achieved three grade As at A level4

29.5

25.9

1 Students attending maintained schools only including city technology colleges and academies. 2 16 to 18-year-old candidates entered for GCE/Applied GCE A levels and Double Awards in 2008/09 and GCE/VCE A level and VCE Double Awards in 2005/06. 3 The question on the school census does not differentiate between gifted students and talented students. 4 Includes GCE/Applied GCE A level and Double Awards in 2008/09 and GCE/VCE A level and VCE Double Awards in 2005/06. Source: National Pupil Database (2005/06 final data, 2008/09 revised data).